If you’ve read any of my articles from the past year, you know that one of my favorite topics to write about in this column is my various experiences with health-related issues, particularly eating well and working out. I enjoy learning about nutrition and exercise, implementing what I’ve learned, and sharing my exploits and adventures with anyone else who is interested in such topics. In particular, I like to tackle new and interesting challenges and then chronicle the results.

So, when my older sister invited me to join her in completing the “10-day No Added Sugar Challenge,” I couldn’t refuse.

The rules she prescribed were simple: While we were allowed to eat naturally occurring sugars, such as those found in fruit and dairy, we could not consume added sugars. Fruit juice was also prohibited because it lacks the fiber found in unprocessed fruit, and fiber helps control the body’s absorption of sugar.

As I anticipated, the most difficult aspect of this challenge has been dealing with processed foods, which pose two directly related problems. First, sugar goes by many names. In fact, my sister sent me a list of 56 different terms for sugar, many of which appear on the labels of everyday packaged foods. Sugar, then, is not always referred to as simply “sugar.” As you can imagine, the second problem is that so many packaged foods contain some form of added sugar because it appears under so many different guises. Even food touted as being “healthy” can contain hidden sugar. For the most part, I have had to cut processed foods out of my diet.

In addition, I’ve inevitably had to deal with cravings for sweets, particularly given the stresses of school (haven’t we all used chocolate to cope?). Still, I’ve developed a few different methods of dealing with my cravings which will hopefully prove to be helpful to anyone interested in undertaking this challenge.

First, I try to satisfy my desire for sugar by eating fruit and dairy, both of which have naturally occurring sugars. I know that eating an apple might not satisfy your sweet tooth as well as, say, a piece of cake, but it might at least help a bit.

I’ve also found that it is of the utmost important never to allow yourself to get too hungry. The hungrier you become, the more your dietary inhibitions and your healthful resolve weaken, leaving you to deal with even stronger cravings. Case in point: As I’m sure most people know from experience, it’s harder to refuse a candy bar when you’re starving than it is when you’re full.

Finally, having a support system is important because it provides both encouragement and accountability. I’ve been keeping in touch with my sister to discuss our progress, vent about our moments of temptation, and exhort each other to stick to the plan. This challenge would be substantially more difficult without such a support system. Knowing that someone “has your back” is a great way to keep from tripping up.

Overall, though this challenge has been difficult, I’ve found it to be very rewarding. I’ve been eating in a more conscious way, reading labels, and becoming increasingly cognizant of the prevalence of sugar in common foods. It’s startling how much of it people consume unwittingly, which is why I encourage anyone interested in living a healthful lifestyle to try this challenge in order to increase awareness about what we’re actually putting in our bodies on a daily basis.