The sweet tooth a condition that everyone battles with. Is it worth it to eat the pack of Skittles or try to ignore it for as long as possible? The answer is neither.
Truth be told there are many healthy alternatives that will satisfy a sweet tooth so there’s no need to eat unhealthy junk or go days dreaming about tasting the rainbow. The difference is that these alternatives work in our favor to prevent packing on the added bulge and the added guilt.
Dessert: Candy/Fruity Snacks e.g. Skittles.
In one single packet of Skittles there are 231 calories and 43 grams of sugar!
Alternative: Frozen Grapes: 1 cup equals 110 calories, which is less than half of the calories found in your favorite candy. Also grapes provide essential vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to us. (livestrong.com)
Added recipe: Strawberries with a drizzle of honey/agave.
Dessert: Snickers Bar.
One bar is 250 calories and has 27 grams of sugar.
Alternative: Dark Chocolate covered Almonds: ¼ cup of almonds ( 23 almonds) is 160 calories and 1 square of Lindt 70% dark chocolate is 52 calories and 3 grams of sugar. The total is 212 calories which is close to the snickers bar but believe it or not this alternative is more beneficial to our health because the dark cocoa provides antioxidants and almonds are a good source of protein and vitamin E.
Dessert: Baked Goods: Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cupcakes, Cake.
One medium size cookie is approximately 78 calories, which compared to the previously mentioned desserts is not bad! (Also home baked goods are made from ingredients that are recognizable to us compared to those found on the back of the candy bar) The key here is to eat it in moderation so don’t eat the entire batch of cookies. Remember it is okay to TREAT YOURSELF every now and again. You worked hard, and deserve the sweet things in life.
Alternative: Rice cake with peanut butter or hazelnut butter equals to approximately 120 calories
Dessert: Ice Cream: Häagen-Dazs®, Ben& Jerry.
I apply the same reasoning for the cookies here as well, if ice cream is what my taste buds truly desire I EAT it, but in moderation. There is nothing wrong with a little dairy now and again (unless you are lactose intolerant). As for the nutritional information, Haagen Daz usually ranges from 250 calories and up for a ½ cup. There are many alternatives created that cut those calories and sugars by half.
Alternative: Greek Yogurt with melted dark chocolate.- this recipe is approximately 140 calories and it is super easy to make. Using the same Lindt 70% dark chocolate square and a cup of nonfat Greek yogurt, melt chocolate and stir into yogurt. You can also top it with your favorite berries.
Swapping regular ice cream for gives you an added bonus because Greek yogurt has several health benefits. Two of them are that it helps with weight management and bone health. For more information check out our post on the benefits of greek yogurt.
Added Alternative: Frozen Banana Ice Cream: Watch Blogilates’s Cassey Ho’s awesome two ingredient recipe!
