Day 1 is the hardest

I don’t usually give away much personal information here but get ready for a confession: there have been maybe twelve days in the last year when I didn’t eat an entire medium-sized bag of almond M&Ms. Second confession: that was a lie. I’ve gone four days. I know exactly which four they were.

Sometimes people ask if not having a good sense of smell affects my sense of taste, and all I can really answer is I don’t know? But if it does, that might explain why I can stomach things like mayonnaise pizza and cream cheese sandwiches, and why I love Sriracha, and why I LOVE ALMOND M&MS. And why when I’m adding sugar to my drink at Starbucks I always pretend to slip and accidentally pour three times a normal amount in, and no one’s falling for it anymore.

My doctor says milk chocolate affects your running abilities, my mom says my bones are shrinking, and my dentist says candy is bad for your teeth whether you floss or not and they’re probably all wrong, but I think I should eat less sugar.

So in my lowest moment I called my sister Drew, who just went thirty days without sugar and ended her thirty days with a small root beer float she shared with my mom. Besides that pathetic re-entry to sugar, I’m impressed with her, and I wanted her advice.

“What day are you on?” she asked.

I guess I’m starting right now - I’m on day one.

“Ohhhhhhh...” she winced audibly. “Day one is the hardest.”




This is a waffle with butter, maple syrup, Nutella, whip cream, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and powdered sugar. It's gluten-free so you know it's healthy. Also Nutella is made with real hazelnuts.