We all have those times when we just want to sink our teeth into something that is sugary yet bad for our overall health goals. Sugary baked goods, sweet candies and frozen sweet treats all make the cut for foods that we love to help crush our sweet tooth cravings.
Our cravings can get the best of us, but we don’t have to resort to unhealthy ways of satisfying our need for sweet things. Here are a few simple ways to satisfy a sweet tooth without adding to the bulge.
Substitute fresh fruit for candy.
Fresh fruit sometimes has as much sugar as those sweet treats we love to indulge in every now and then, however, these sugars are natural and easier for the body to break them down and convert into energy. Incorporate a fruit salad in your breakfast or a fruit smoothie with a bit of protein powder whenever you have that craving.
Choose dark chocolate over milk chocolate.
One of the guiltiest pleasures of satisfying a sweet tooth is snacking on chocolate. Coming in many different versions from milk chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate swirled with caramel, this cocoa treat can become fattening if consumed in high quantities on a daily basis. Milk chocolate contains dairy that can add to your fat intake, so swap out the lighter chocolate for dark chocolate. Not only will it satisfy your sweet tooth, but it will help with your heart health and provide antioxidants to the body that can help with boosting the immune system.