Cut the Sugar Cookbook Announcement

Hello! You guys! I’m writing a cookbook! Eek!

I’ve been unofficially mentioning the news here and there so maybe you’re not surprised. But officially, I have not announced the details yet – so here I go!

I am very very excited to share that I am writing a cookbook entitled Cut the Sugar, You’re Sweet Enough! (Andrews McMeel) 

Cut the Sugar is a practical, real-life approach to reducing sugar the healthy way so you don’t feel deprived. This is not a sugar-detox book but an inspiring cookbook and guide to change your relationship with the foods you love and address your cravings properly. There are over 100 delicious and easy recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and yes, even dessert!

The book will be published by Andrews McMeel and released on January 5th 2016. 

Why ‘Cut the Sugar’?

One of the first health changes I made when I tried to heal from Myasthenia Gravis (a rare illness that made me loose muscle strength everywhere to the point I could barely walk or eat and even carry my baby) is to cut out sugar. I had a huge sweet tooth throughout my teens and twenties and it became a daily treat to stuff my face with anything I could find around the house that contained high amounts of sugar. Of course it tasted great and I was a savvy connoisseur  so I carried chocolate and candy bars in my purse, had some granola bars in the car, cookies in my desk drawer and tons of sweets at home. I was smart though, I sweetened my tea with honey not white sugar and baked with brown sugar. Turns out, there wasn’t much of a difference. Sugar was sugar… or was it?

But is all sugar really the same? Turns out not all sugars are created equal. There’s sugar that is definitely bad for you and can contribute to diabetes, heart disease, obesity as well as cancer. But then there’s sugar that is good for you and our health actually benefits from it as it’s loaded with antioxidants and amazing vitamins and minerals that our body need to function well. Basically, my mission has been to omit the bad sugars and enjoy the good sugars – sounds pretty sweet, right? Except that sugar info is so confusing. Navigating through this sugar coated world can be so challenging. But I got this. I’ve got the secrets that made it work for me and helped me turn my health around. Sugar doesn’t have to be the enemy. You can enjoy the sweet life guilt-free. I promise! 

At first, Cut the Sugar, Sugar! You’re Sweet Enough was a blog post I wrote 3 years ago. It had so much traffic and I got so many emails about it that it made me so proud. I was helping people cut down on sugar and it felt so good! This was very early on in my food blogging career and it was one of the inspirations for me to continue sharing healthy recipes and healthy living tips as well as recipes that were refined sugar-free.

Three years later, I get an email from a literary agent with interest for a book about this very post (that by now I pretty much forgot about). Would you believe my first phone conversation with Coleen O’Shea was when I was just 1 week away from my due date with Amelia?  I started writing the proposal for the book when she was teeny tiny just a couple weeks old and it was a busy summer last year (not just with a baby) but with finding the right fit with a publisher. We sealed the book deal just before my birthday in September and it’s been a crazy amazing year since. 

This original blog post was about a sugar-detox – however now I view sugar a little differently. So the vision for Cut the Sugar is different too.  I didn’t want this book to be a sugar-detox book but rather a way to cut down on sugar and still enjoy the healthier versions of quality sweeteners as well as fruit. (Yes, you get to eat fructose!) My approach is to cut the sugar, not quit sugar entirely! 

Now you know why it’s been so hard for me to stay on top of blogging here on Pure Ella. This crazy amazing ‘secret’ has been in the works since September and it’s pretty much all wrapped up and ready for the press. I just haven’t been able to find the time to actually officially share this exciting news. Honestly, I don’t even know how I made it this far. If it wasn’t for my family’s support I wouldn’t have been able to do this. (Can you believe I have not had a full night of sleep for close to 15 months?) I can’t say I recommend writing a book while having a little one around. She’s my precious little angel but I do wish she slept like an angel through the night too. Even with the book I can’t say I lost as much sleep. I’ve been keeping things nice and balanced always reminding myself what stress and bad habits did to me 7 years ago when I first got sick. 

This book is a work of passion and a place where a piece of my heart as well as all my talents have been put into one. As a passionate health nut, foodie, graphic designer and photographer – this is what I was born to create in this world – this very beautiful cookbook for you all to enjoy! I am so thrilled with it and I think you will be too! 

And now… without further adieu, this is the cover of Cut the Sugar, You’re Sweet Enough!

The book is already listed for pre-orders, so reserve your copy on Amazon or through other major book sellers. >> click here to pre-order and save <<

In the meantime, I will be enjoying this time to get back to doing what I love most, blogging, catching up with my friends and readers on social media and allowing myself to live the sweet life with my family and friends. Because yes, you can have it all (with balance)! To prove that point, watch for an Ice Cream post next! 

 

Lastly, I can’t end this post without mentioning how grateful I am for everyone visiting and supporting me on my health and blogging journey over the years. I am so unbelievably thankful for each and every one of you. This book wouldn’t have been possible without my readers and community supporters. I had no idea this path was in front of me but it felt so good that I kept going…. it’s been a wonderful ride so far as a blogger and now I can’t even express my excitement how incredibly honoured and grateful I am to enter this new chapter as a writer. 

Thank YOU all so much for your continued love and support! xo Ella