I have a monster sweet tooth. I love chocolate, gummy anything, cake, cookies...you name it. And don't get me started on cherry pie <eyes roll back into head>. When I decided to start eating healthier, naturally, I had to eliminate just about all of those foods from my normal routine (though, a treat now and again is perfectly alright as long as it's not excessive). The cravings persisted, however. So, in place of those unhealthy snacks, I substituted much healthier options that catered to my need for sweets while providing nourishment, vitamins, and minerals to my diet instead of empty calories.
Shakeology has been instrumental in that regard, as it provides a dense dose of daily nutrition yet tastes amazing. It's my favorite breakfast these days, partially because I feel like I'm breaking Breakfast Law by having something that tastes just like a chocolate milkshake that early in the morning. It is tremendously healthy and filling, which lessens my cravings for other sweets. Additionally, I started making my own "parfait" with plain greek yogurt and berries. I'll add a touch of honey to some cottage cheese as a snack instead of reaching for a stack of Oreos (recently bought Buckwheat Honey...the layers of flavor are both delicious and intriguing, highly recommend!). Using Stevia (natural, non-processed extract) is a great substitute for sugar and artificial sweeteners. And, generally, before you reach for a candy bar, reach for an apple! Fruit is never a bad alternative as long as you don't eat in excess and are exercising regularly (the sugar in fruit--fructose--is of a different composition than that which you find in most junk food--sucrose--having different phytonutrients and being slower to digest...which is a good thing!).
Substitute some of these options for your typical sugary snacks and you'll feel better and start to see those extra pounds peel right off. Have any other healthy alternatives? Leave ideas in the comments!
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