How to overcome a stubborn sweet tooth

It never fails …

You decide to change your lifestyle 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 waiting in line at the cafeteria to order your morning tea, a double chocolate donut catches your eye and you can’t help but indulge yourself.

When you are on a weight loss diet, cravings are often an indication that you are not getting the right mix of nutrition with your meals or that you are not consuming them in the proper proportions. More specifically, sweet cravings are a pretty good indicator that you’re too lean on your carb intake. Everyone has slightly different nutritional requirements, so it is important to determine your own unique requirements before embarking on a weight loss or weight management eating plan.

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 leaving the bandwagon:

1) Fresh fruit is always a great option to combat a sweet tooth. Try to stick with berries, apples, pears, grapes, citrus fruits, and cantaloupe. These fruits are high in fiber and have a lower glycemic index scale. Try to stay away from fruits like bananas, mangoes, and dates. These fruits are much higher in sugar content and will spike your blood sugar more quickly, which can lead to even more sugar cravings down the road. 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 control a sweet craving, but be sure to choose from normal fats (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 option to soothe your sweet tooth as they have a rich sweet taste and still provide the fat and protein nutrients your body needs to maintain blood sugar. Under control. You can eat it just with a little cinnamon or nutmeg sprinkled on top or spread a little on some green apple slices for a great morning or afternoon snack.

4) To be successful with a healthy weight loss diet, sometimes all you need is a fruit-flavored herbal tea to quell the craving. This is a good nighttime alternative once you’ve reached your nutritional content for the day. If you’re not hungry and just need something to relax, this should work.

The most important thing is that you always stay away from any type of processed sugar when eating a healthy weight loss diet. Don’t be fooled by fancy labeling that granola bars are “low-fat” and “high-fiber.” First, it’s not the fat content you need to worry about, it’s the sugar, and second, you have to eat the entire box of those granola bars to get the same amount of fiber as is in a fresh green apple. The longer you can avoid highly unfavorable carbohydrate options, the more your cravings for sweets will start to disappear. Just remember, the path to a healthy body isn’t always easy, but I promise you it’s worth it!