Food Allergy Counseling: Review of Sarah Wilson, I Quit Sugar

Copyright 2014 Clarkson Potter

I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson is not a food allergy related book nor focused on any kind of food allergy issue. 

I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson is about cutting out hidden, and not so hidden, sugars from one’s diet. 

Sarah (who has both Graves & Hashimoto diseases, both autoimmune diseases), found that being low to no sugar helped her body and her overall wellness immensely and almost immediately. If that might be you, too, then read on.  


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I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson lays out an 8-week process of eliminating fructose and added sugars from one's diet to recalibrate one body. Sarah gives recipes to help one along with a sugar-free lifestyle quest.

Overall, I really like her attitude of approaching any new diet regime: be gentle and kind to yourself. 

The format is done well with many pop-outs of tidbits of info and bottom line dos and don’ts – easier to follow that way especially as the first third of the book is how her plans works; the second two thirds are recipe driven.

The book is informative but not deep research driven; it’s more lifestyle choices and how these choices affected the author personally. I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson is an easy read with some valid points about sugar consumption in America and sugar’s potential affects on the body.

I’m not a huge sugar consumer and not a major processed food consumer. Having said that there are plenty of places that I still cut corners, like buying and using pre-made organic tomato sauce (still filled with fructose) or a cookie every now and then or some food allergy free chocolate. It’s not a perfectly sugar-free diet however, my diet works perfectly for me. And the author also stresses that point (which I like and agree with wholeheartedly): there is no one size fits all diet for health. Do the best that you can with what’s available and what your body needs.

I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson has 108 fun, easy recipe ideas, if you know how to cook. This is not a beginner’s guide to cooking cookbook. However, as an experienced cook, I appreciate her “I use the same few ingredients multiple ways so you don't have to go out and buy fancy ingredients” approach. It’s how I cook as well.

It's worth noting the following: 

The recipes are written in a "throw in and bit of this and that" format. If you need more precise instructions, this book may not be for you. 

This recipes are also heavy on the use of tree nuts (including coconuts), eggs and cheese. Proceed accordingly.

By week 4, Sarah's weekly dietary instructions become more focused on feelings around food and social engagements around food; so, it's not a strict "eat this, not that" 8-week diet book.

Excerpt here via her publisher, Clarkson Potter. 

Having said all of that, if you are looking to cut sugars out of your diet, and already know how to cook and throw together meals, this may be a good resource to start that de-sugaring process.

As in all things, any dietary change should be in conjunction with a board certified medical professional who can address any medical needs that may be driving that dietary change.