Introduction
You know that feeling you get when you crave cookies or ice cream? The one where you want something sweet, but not necessarily unhealthy? Well, there's no need to give in to those cravings unless they're part of a healthy diet. Luckily for us (and our waistlines!), there are plenty of ways to satisfy your sweet tooth without packing on extra pounds:
Satisfy your sweet tooth with fruit.
- Fruit is a great source of vitamins and minerals. The fibre in fruit helps you feel full, while the antioxidants help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases.
- Fruit also contains water--a key component for maintaining good hydration levels throughout the day--which can help you stay energized when you're busy or on-the-go.
- Fruit is packed with energy-boosting potassium that can help regulate blood pressure levels so your muscles don't tire easily during physical activity like exercise classes or running errands around town for groceries!
Take a spoonful of peanut butter.
- Take a spoonful of peanut butter.
- The protein in peanut butter is great for your muscles, which means it's also great for your body's overall health.
- It's also packed with monounsaturated fats--a type of fat that can help lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease (1).
- Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radical damage (2). It may also play a role in lowering blood pressure, fighting cancer cells and reducing inflammation (3).
Magnesium plays an important role in many bodily functions including nerve transmission, muscle function and bone formation (4). If you're not getting enough magnesium through food sources like nuts or avocados then consider adding some extra magnesium-rich foods into your diet: almonds or cashews; beans such as black beans; spinach; broccoli sprouts; mushrooms
Add low-calorie flavours to your water.
When you're craving something sweet, adding a splash of lemon juice is almost as effective as eating an entire candy bar. A little garnish goes a long way when it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth and keeping calories down!
Here are some other low-calorie options:
- Lime juice: Add a dash of lime juice to your water or tea for an extra kick. You can also try drinking lime slices straight from the citrus fruit itself; they'll give off more flavour than just squeezing them into a glass of water will provide.
- Orange juice: Just like with orange slices, drinking orange juice straight from its original form is another great way to add some flavour without adding too many calories. You can even mix things up by adding some cranberry or grapefruit juice if you want even more flavour!
Snack on some honeydew.
Honeydew is a low-calorie fruit that's packed with vitamin C, potassium and fibre. The best part? It's also one of the lowest-calorie fruits you can eat!
But you don't have to limit yourself to just honeydew. There are plenty of other options for satisfying your sweet tooth without adding extra calories or making yourself feel like you're eating too much (like those delicious little frosted cookies).
Add cinnamon, not sugar, for sweetness in your coffee.
Cinnamon may just be the most underrated spice in your kitchen. It's a natural sweetener and helps lower blood sugar levels, which is especially helpful if you're trying to lose weight or manage type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon can also help regulate your insulin levels, which means it can help reduce cravings when you're feeling hungry or craving sweets (or sugary foods).
There are a few ways that cinnamon adds sweetness to your coffee:
- Add some ground cinnamon instead of sugar when making hot drinks such as tea or hot coco.
- Use whole pieces of dried spices like star anise or nutmeg instead of ground spices in baked goods like cookies and muffins.
Stock up on dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is a good source of magnesium, antioxidants and iron. It's also a good source of calcium, zinc and copper.
You can find dark chocolate in some supermarkets or online retailers like Amazon.
When choosing your snack foods, keep in mind that more processed foods tend to be higher in calories than whole-food options like fruits and vegetables (unless you're looking for something sweet).
Savour some strawberries with a smear of dark chocolate.
Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C and fibre, which can help keep your blood sugar level steady. Strawberries also contain potassium and folate, which are essential for good health.
Using dark chocolate to sweeten your strawberries adds an extra boost of flavour that will make them taste even better than before!
Sweeten up chia pudding with berries and nuts.
Chia seeds are a great source of fibre and protein, so adding them to your smoothie is a great way to increase your daily intake. A cup of berries contains about 1g of sugar. If you're craving sweets, keep these berries in mind as an alternative that's also high in antioxidants and vitamins B6, C, K and E (which help prevent oxidative stress).
Combine all ingredients in a bowl or glass jar; use an immersion blender if you'd like to make it even smoother! Chill before serving--the chia pudding will thicken when chilled which makes it easier to pour into glasses without having lumps sticking out!
Whip up a fruit parfait.
Try making a fruit parfait. To keep your calories in check, use low-fat yogurt and add a little fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries or blackberries. You can also add nut butter (such as almond butter) or peanut butter to make it more interesting--and healthier! If you like honey on top of everything else, go ahead and drizzle some over there too!
You can incorporate sweet treats into your diet in healthy ways.
The key to a healthy diet is knowing which foods are good for you and which ones aren't. You can incorporate sweet treats into your diet in healthy ways by keeping calories, sugar, fat and salt low while also choosing fruits or vegetables that are high in antioxidants and vitamin C.
Sweet treats can be an integral part of an overall balanced lifestyle because they provide energy without weighing down your body with too many calories. But if you're looking for ways to cut back on the sugar content of your favourite desserts without sacrificing taste or texture (or compromising your health), try these tips:
Conclusion
We hope this post has given you some ideas on how to get your sweet tooth satisfied without the calories, fat and sugar. We know that all of us have had our fair share of bad days or just want to be healthy, so we wanted to offer up some simple tips that can help with both.
So, take control of your sweet cravings by making Diabeat Plus Sugar a key ingredient of your all quick sweet fixes.