Eating sweet foods is a very common craving that reaches us all at some point in the week or even almost every day. One of the most common mistakes in some diets is to ignore or prohibit it. The problem comes when, after the first signs of weakness, you run out to satisfy your craving. The truth is that there are certain healthy alternatives and some tips to be able to combine different ingredients and get healthy alternative “treats”.
It is also important to remember that it is possible to eat sugar and sweets on a diet and not gain weight. You just have to know and respect some recommendations and stay relaxed.
Main recommendations
Do not ban the sweet
Instead of abandoning sweets completely, it is advisable to moderate and reduce their consumption or replace them with healthier sweet foods. Fruits, for example, are sweet foods that provide a large number of nutrients for sports and also help with weight loss. Nor should we forget that salty foods also have a large number of calories. Although, with this type of food, weight gain is usually less associated than with sweet foods.
Drink sugar-free infusions
Gradually reducing the spoonfuls of sugar in the infusions allows the palate to adapt, little by little, and ends up not needing large amounts of sugar to enjoy the infusions. In addition, it helps moderate the sugar in breakfasts and not overload the body with significant amounts of sugar from the first hour. Yogurts and fruits are healthy and sweet foods that can compensate for sucrose intake and at the same time provide benefits and a delicious taste.
Read the labels
Although our body needs sugar to function properly, the average consumption is well above what is recommended. To prevent diseases and maintain a healthy body, it is highly recommended to follow the instructions of doctors and dieticians. Much of the daily sugar consumed comes from processed sweet foods, and checking labels can go a long way in controlling your intake.
Maintain good hydration and eliminate stress
Many times anxiety and thirst can lead us to want to eat something sweet. Drinking enough water and being physically active help lower those levels of anxiety and stress and prevent cravings from popping up as often.
In addition to these general recommendations, eating something sweet, either for breakfast or snack, is a fairly common habit and desire that can be satisfied without giving up the diet or gaining a few kilos.
The following recipes allow you to make sweet and tasty snacks while keeping your calorie intake under control and satisfying your cravings without any guilt.
Blueberry muffins or balls
Ingredients
- 2 cups of walnuts (you can alternate a cup of walnuts with 1 of almonds)
- 1 cup of dates
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 lemon (zest)
- 1/2 lemon (juice)
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well blended and a dough has formed. Then make balls of the size you want, and refrigerate until the dough is firm.
Apple Cinnamon Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dates
- 1 cup dried apples (not freeze-dried)
- 1/2 cup oat flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well blended and a dough has formed. Then you have to form balls of the size you want and put them in the fridge until the dough is firm and cold.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup plain peanut butter
- 1 cup grated coconut
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well blended and a dough has formed. Then form balls of the size you want, and chill until the dough is firm.
Conclusion
Combining healthy ingredients is a great way to avoid indulging in traditional and processed snacks that contain large amounts of calories and make dieting difficult. In addition to these alternatives for snacks or breakfast, it is essential to drink at least 2 liters of water a day and play sports to maintain health, and weight and reduce anxiety. With these examples, it is possible to discover that a healthy snack can be very sweet and tasty, provide important nutrients, and help to lose weight at the same time.