Sugar free? Is it even possible? And some contest news!

I'm trying to make some serious lifestyle changes, primarily giving up refined sugar and switching to a diet that focuses on natural, whole foods. The difficulty on this is fairly high because you all know that I am hopelessly addicted to Pepsi, mainly fountain Pepsi. So I have given up on my beloved fountain drinks and have been successful for about 3 weeks now, but it's a struggle every time I am out and about, because I want to swing in to my favorite QT and grab a cold drink. I literally have to talk myself down each and every time, but it is getting easier. At home, I just try to stick with my unsweetened iced tea (the only right way to drink it, despite what you crazy southerners might think) and lots of boring water.


The next phase means that I need to eliminate refined sugar in the food I eat, and at the moment I am confounded by veggies. I love to snack on raw veggies but I certainly can't serve my kids like that all the time. I'd be facing full scale rebellion! My monsters aren't picky eaters by any stretch, but we are all getting bored with steamed vegetables. Any ideas? Know of any good cookbooks that focus on healthy and tasty cooking? Hook me up!
 
How is this paranormal, you ask? Remember Bunnicula? The cute little rabbit that sucked her veggies dry? Not good enough for you? How about I sweeten the pot with a couple of books to giveaway?

Leave me a comment giving me a recipe idea or tell me about a cookbook you love, and I will pick one lucky reader to get a grab bag of books, including but not necessarily limited to, Angel of Darkness by Cynthia Eden, and The Hunter by Theresa Meyers. Due to postage concerns this has to be limited to my U.S. readers only.

You can also post recipe ideas on the FB wall...I've been trying to check at least once a week:)