Staying fit seems impossible if you are a cookie-and-candy lover! No matter how hard you try, resisting the temptation to eat your favorite desserts or chocolates feels like a real challenge. But the more you ignore it, the more difficult it gets. And hence, most of us fail to keep up with a healthy diet plan to satisfy your sugar cravings for longer.
But hey, here’s the good news!
You can enjoy your sweet cravings and still stay healthy! Yes, even sweets can be a part of a balanced diet. Simply bringing about a few healthy changes in your choices can really help.
Read on to know more.
Healthy Ways to Balance Your Sweet Cravings
Moderation Is The Key
Well, eating sugar is not the problem; eating too much of it is harmful. Also, if you try eliminating sugar from your diet completely, it may leave you feeling unsatisfied and disappointed. Why? Because our body needs sugar (Glucose) to survive.
So what to do, then?
Eat sweets in moderation! The recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest limiting the consumption of added sugars to no more than 10% of calories per day. Switch to portion eating! Instead of grabbing that entire packet of cookies, serve yourself a small portion and put the rest to enjoy at another time. By eating sugar in moderation, you can satisfy your sweet tooth without worrying about your health.
Find The Middle Way Out
Instead of eliminating your favorite desserts or sweet dishes from your diet, try using healthy ingredients for making them. For instance, you can consume a confectioners sugar substitute for icing recipes or to add a dash of sweetness on top of pies. This will make your sugary treats delicious without you needing to sacrifice on your healthy eating habits..
Another way is to make healthier versions of your favorite desserts. For instance, if you are craving an ice cream-like dessert, you can quickly blend some frozen bananas with dark cocoa powder and peanut butter for a healthier and tastier dessert treat. Again, indulge in portion eating.
Stock Up With Healthy Alternatives
Even treats can be nutritious if you try to make every calorie count! It is advisable to choose desserts and treats that contain 100 to 200 calories and offer nutritional benefits. When you feel a strong urge to grab something sweet, you can go for natural alternatives like fruits, nuts, and dried fruits. Or you can also grab on other options like energy bars made with whole grains and sweetened with natural sweeteners.
Grab A Chocolate or Hard Candy
Do you know, consuming cocoa in small doses can have a positive impact on our hearts? So, when sugar cravings hit you, eat a piece of chocolate. Two things to consider here: opt for dark chocolates with at least 70% cocoa, limit yourself to one or more pieces of chocolate.
The Take Away
The next time you feel a strong urge to eat something sweet, do not resist it. Instead, follow the above tips and enjoy your sweet tooth guilt-free.
