Drop Sugar, Lose the Weight: Your 1-Week Plan

One of the biggest challenges to weight loss is the fact the sugar is pervasive – it’s everywhere and in everything. It’s not just cane sugar that impacts your blood sugar, and in turn, your weight, but a reliance on sweeteners in general, even less refined varieties such as pure maple syrup and coconut sugar.

To jump-start your weight loss, why not give a no-sugar lifestyle a try? This plan ditches all sweeteners, even the natural varieties, to give you a taste of what it’s like to reduce your reliance on the sweet stuff. It’s also designed with a reduced calorie load, about 1300 calories per day or less, but you can adjust this as needed to suit your weight and activity level. 

The connection between obesity and sugar is real (for more information, obesity expert Dr. Amy Lee explains the link here.) We’re making it straightforward and easy with this nutritionist-designed plan to ditch sugar and help you on your weight-loss journey.

The recipes

Berry Green Smoothie

Get a hearty helping of vegetables and fruit with this recipe for a delicious berry and spinach smoothie. Get the recipe.

Spinach and Cauli-Rice Salad with Cashew Dressing

This paleo-friendly, vegan main features riced cauliflower, which you can quickly make in a food processor. If you’re stretched for time, use premade or frozen. Get the recipe.

White Bean Soup with Caper Almond Pesto

White beans add a rich, creamy texture to this soup without any dairy. A 5-minute almond pesto that you can whip up while the soup is heating adds oomph to the recipe. Get the recipe.

Better Baked Beans on Toast

Instead of the typical sugar-filled tomato sauce in baked beans, the sauce in our version relies on peppery fresh thyme, savory coconut aminos and sour apple cider vinegar to balance out this protein-rich, hearty breakfast. Get the recipe.

Basil Cashew Salmon with Asparagus Tomato Sauté

The fresh flavors of asparagus, lemon and basil help to offset the richness of nutrient-dense wild salmon. To make it extra pretty, add a sprinkle of lemon zest over top before serving. Get the recipe.

Grilled Asparagus Salad with Feta Hazelnut Crumble

A simple lemon dressing adds a zesty zing to smokey grilled asparagus in this fast and fresh salad. Get the recipe.

Chile Orange Chicken Wings with Ranch Slaw

By baking wings on a rack elevated over a baking sheet you’re able to achieve all-around crispness without frying. These wings are smoky, spicy and sweet — a winning combination and something a little different for dinner. Get the recipe.

This week’s menu

Shopping list

Proteins & dairy

• 1 small container plain whole-milk yogurt
• 1 small container whole milk
• 1 container full-fat feta cheese
• 1 carton unsweetened almond milk
• 1 container vanilla protein powder
• 5 15-oz BPA-free cans unsalted cannellini beans
• 1 lb split chicken wings
• 2 4-oz wild salmon fillets
• 1 carton low-sodium chicken broth

Veggies & fruits

• 1 bag frozen berries
• 9 oz spinach
• 1.5 oz baby arugula
• 8 oz green beans
• 1 large bunch fresh basil
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• 1 bunch fresh chives
• 2 large shallots
• 1 small yellow onion
• 2 red onions
• 1 head garlic
• 1 head cauliflower
• 8 oz shredded cabbage mix
• 1.5 lb asparagus
• 2 pints grape tomatoes
• 5 lemons
• 2 oranges

Grains

• 1 small loaf whole-grain sourdough or country rye bread

Nuts, seeds & oils

• 1 bottle olive oil
• 1 bottle avocado oil
• 1 jar unsalted cashew butter
• 1 bag raw unsalted cashews
• 1 bag roasted unsalted almonds
• 1 bag hemp hearts
• 1 container toasted unsalted hazelnuts (optional)

Pantry staples

• 1 jar capers
• 2 cans unsalted tomato paste
• 1 jar olive oil mayonnaise
• 1 bottle coconut aminos
• 1 bottle apple cider vinegar
• 1 jar whole-grain mustard
• 1 bag nutritional yeast
• 1 bag tapioca starch
• 1 bottle dried herbes de provence
• 1 bottle sea salt
• 1 bottle ground black pepper
• 1 bottle dried dill
• 1 bottle smoked paprika
• 1 bottle chile powder
• 1 bottle garlic powder
• 1 bottle ground cumin
• 1 bottle red pepper flakes