it never fails…
You decide to change your life habits and start a healthy diet to lose weight. The first few days are really tough, but you are determined to stay the course. A couple of weeks go by and you start to see measurable results. You feel good, you feel strong, and then one day, while you’re waiting in line at the coffee shop for your morning tea, a double-chocolate donut catches your eye and you can’t help but indulge.
When you’re on a weight-loss diet, cravings are often an indication that you’re not getting the right mix of nutrition with your meals or consuming them in the right proportions. More specifically, sweet cravings are a pretty good indicator that you’re too low on your carb intake. Everyone has slightly different nutritional requirements and that’s why it’s important to determine your own unique requirements before embarking on an eating plan for weight loss or weight management.
If you’re following a healthy eating plan and getting the right amount of nutrition and that sweet tooth just won’t give up, here are some healthy ways you can try to satisfy your cravings without falling off the bandwagon:
1) Fresh fruit is always an excellent option to combat the craving for something sweet. Try and stick with berries, apples, pears, grapes, citrus, and melon. These fruits are high in fiber and have a lower glycemic index. Try to stay away from fruits like bananas, mango, and dates. These fruits have a much higher sugar content and will spike your blood sugar more quickly, which can lead to even more sugar cravings in the future. Also be sure to pair a fruit snack with a healthy protein option, like cottage cheese or plain-flavored yogurt.
2) Yogurt is a good option to tame a sweet tooth, but be sure to choose the full-fat kind (usually in the organic section) and never eat yogurts made with artificial sweeteners.
3) Nut butters (almond butter, peanut butter, etc.) are also a great choice for soothing a sweet tooth, as they have a rich sweet flavor and still provide the fat and protein nutrients your body needs to maintain your blood sugar level. Under control. You can eat it plain with a little cinnamon or nutmeg sprinkled on top or sprinkle some on green apple slices for a great morning or afternoon snack.
4) To be successful on a healthy weight-loss diet, sometimes all you need is a fruity-flavored herbal tea to quell a craving. Raw honey and agave nectar are my best recommendations if you need to add a little of sweetener to taste. This is a good alternative for the night once you have put in your nutritional content for the day. If you’re not hungry and just need something to calm you down, this should do the trick.
Most importantly, always stay away from any type of processed sugar when on a healthy weight loss diet. Don’t be fooled by fancy labels that tell you granola bars are “low fat” and “high fiber.” First of all, it’s not the fat content you should be concerned about, it’s the sugar, and second, you’d need to eat the entire box of those granola bars to get the same amount of fiber as there is in a fresh green apple. The longer you can avoid highly unfavorable carbohydrate options, the more your cravings for sweets will start to fade. Just remember, the road to a healthy body isn’t always easy, but I promise you it’s worth it!