Children of the Corn: Week 2 Without High Fructose Corn Syrup

by Mary Jo, January 26, 2009 at 10:23am

I’ve been off corn syrup for about two weeks. To be honest, it has been a little heartbreaking.  I have seen a pattern in the tempting foods I have had to cut out.  A sense of nostalgia tends to accompany items that contain corn syrup, high fructose or otherwise.

Not to be a Little Debbie Downer, but I am so sorry to look back and see my childhood blotted by highly processed corporate foods.  Perhaps they still hold a special place in my heart and stomach because I think of them as treats.   My parents typically didn’t keep tasty novelties like soda pop, Doritos, or frozen pizzas in the house. My dad’s idea of an after-school snack was freshly baked carob cookies or fresh fruit and cheese. Frosted cupcakes were generally just a birthday party delicacy. Like a lot of kids, I ran off to college and, in attempt at superficial independence, insisted on chowing down instant mac’n’cheese and microwaveable meals. Thank goodness I outgrew all that. Or did I?

So how is this health and eco-conscientious adult see-sawing with the pudgy kid inside during this HCFS-free experiment?  Well here’s my list of foods I’ve had to avoid:

Root beer and cola

Frosted cupcakes with sprinkles

Crackers

Doritos (corn syrup solids?! what is that?)

Hot dogs

Ketchup

Peppermint patties

With my sweet tooth, this has been tough! I’ve definitely had a few cravings. Here are some of the foods that have helped me through this difficult time:

DIY Soda from the Soda Club (just glucose syrup in those)

Fresh-baked goodies like carrot cake and muffins

Homemade toffee candy

Pita and hummus

Kosher hot dogs

Organic Ketchup

I’ve also made some delicious meals from scratch, that way I knew exactly what went into them. The southwest chicken salad with whole corn kernels, black beans, and fresh veggies was incredible! But…I still had to check the chipotle cheddar dressing ingredients for corn syrup. Next post, I’ll let you in on the trials and tribulations of eating at home versus eating out.

Until then – have a high fructose free day!

Mary Jo's resolution: Week 1, Week 3