Start Slowly

Cold-turkey methods are likely to meet with failure and demoralization. If you eat a large amount of sugar, you are unlikely to be successful stopping entirely overnight. Set concrete but realistic goals for yourself to reduce sugar consumption over several weeks. You will learn how to deal with cravings and be able to adjust for the occasional mistake.

Find Healthy Alternatives

Too many dieters trying to quit sugar make the mistake of substituting with sugar-free soda, candy and other sweet treats. These snacks often have their own health side effects and ultimately they increase the body's desire for real sugar, leading to increased likelihood of stumbling in your diet. Dried fruit and cinnamon sticks are sweet-tasting healthy alternatives. Also consider protein-heavy snacks like nuts and cheese, which often effectively combat the hunger pangs at the root of sugar urges.

Be a Savvy Shopper

Familiarize yourself with the FDA nutrition label on everything you buy. You might be surprised how many products have added sugar. Avoid most processed foods and substitute whole-wheat breads, pasta and rice for the white versions. Of course, fresh vegetables are the most reliable, healthiest source of sugar-free food available.

Cook at Home

Restaurants are notorious for enhancing the flavor of their meals with ingredients like butter, salt and sugar, often far more of them than you would consider using when cooking at home. While chain restaurants in the United States are now required to provide nutritional information, many independent restaurants do not, making eating out a potentially perilous activity. When cooking at home, you can precisely control what goes into your food and what stays out.

Avoid Behavior Triggers

Are you someone who drinks a soda every time you have pizza? You may have to avoid pizza for a while. Do you always buy candy at the movies? Consider renting movies while you make the transition. As with every unhealthy activity, sometimes certain situations and behaviors trigger powerful cravings. Think carefully about these situations and try to craft your lifestyle around them, particularly during the early sugar-free transition.