Name: 9 Healthy Foods To Eat When You Want Sweets
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients: 1 cup frozen berries; 1 banana, medium; 1 cup milk

If you want to quit sugar and eat better to be healthier, here are 10 healthy foods to eat when you want sweets!

Sugar cravings are not fun when you’re trying to avoid the stuff. An occasional piece of birthday cake or a cookie is no problem, but sugar has effects on your brain that resemble those of some illegal drugs. The sweet substance activates the reward center in our brains by releasing dopamine in our bodies – just like cocaine does. This is where the cravings come from and how eating sugar makes you want more.

Other reasons why you may be overcome with a desire for something sweet might be mineral deficiency (iron or magnesium), blood sugar fluctuations, higher stress levels, not getting enough sleep, and the resulting fatigue. However, that chocolate you’re reaching for right now won’t help with any of that, so it’s worth investing some effort into tweaking your habits.

Wondering what healthy foods to eat when you want sweets? Below are some ideas to help curb your sweet tooth if you’re on a no-sweets and no-sugar diet. As with any other addiction, quitting sugar is no easy task, but with a bit of discipline and a lot of foods high in protein and fiber, you’ll be able to control your blood sugar levels and enjoy a life with more energy.

1. Chia pudding

Chia seeds have been deemed a superfood because of their high omega-3 content, as well as plenty of fiber which is your best weapon if you’re quitting sugar.

When soaked in milk, you chia absorbs the liquid and creates a super creamy texture aka we’ve got chia pudding. Top with some berries and if you with – a little bit of nut butter and enjoy it any time of the day. Skip the cookies and have this wonderful, super nutritious snack instead. Here’s the recipe.

2. Yogurt with berries and nuts

Similarly to chia pudding – this delicious treat comes together in about 5 minutes. No need to wait overnight though. This tasty snack is in antioxidants, fiber and protein – all things your body needs and will use!

Just grab your favorite unsweetened yogurt, top with fruit and nuts (I love walnuts or pecans) and drizzle a little bit of honey or maple syrup. You do not want to overdo it. It’s going to kick those sugar cravings and make them cry. But you – you will be happy.

3. Fruit

I know it might seem sad to reach for fruit when you want a cookie, but it works! Even for me – I was huge on cookies, but I found out, once I have a good piece of fruit – the cravings go away. So, grab some strawberries, tangerines, peaches, pears – whatever you like. They’re all perfectly sweet and super nutritious. If you want to make it even better, have some almonds or cashews to go along!

4. Sauteed apples

Apple crumble, without the crumble. This easy healthy treat is ready in about 5 minutes! Top with some chopped nuts and if you wish yogurt for a more filling snack.

5. Strawberry Smoothie

If you have frozen bananas, berries and some mik you can make the most perfectly tasty smoothie! You can use other fruits as well. When you use them frozen you can make something very similar to ice cream, but super tasty too!

6. Nut butter

This is an easy one! Nut butters tend to be a little bit sweet naturally and have a more rich, nutty flavor. Have a tbsp or two whenever you have cravings for sweets.

Choose nut butters without added sugar or other ingredients. A good example of this is cashew nut butter.

For a sweeter and more balanced snack, spread some nut butter over an apple slice and enjoy! This will satisfy your sugar cravings in a more sustainable way than a cookie.

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7. Dark chocolate

If you’re craving chocolate it’s best to choose dark over the milk variety. Look for chocolate bars that contain over 70% cocoa. Polyphenols, powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects, are abundant in chocolate with a high cocoa content. Still, remember that the sugar is there so don’t eat the whole bar.

8. Mascarpone with berries

If you crave a cheesecake or something like tiramisu, satisfy your sweet tooth with the combination of mascarpone with berries. It’s more calorie-dense than yogurt and berries, but it’s sugar-free as it’s delicious enough to allow you to skip on the sweetener.

9. Fruit sorbet

Most sugar-free recipes for sorbet require the addition of some sweetener, but you can skip it if your fruit is sweet enough. You can use fruits like berries, mango, peaches, melon, or whatever you enjoy the most. Cup it up, freeze it for a few hours, and blitz it in a food processor – it’s that simple to make a sorbet! Keep it in the freezer or eat it immediately as a sweet summery treat.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy the ideas on this list of healthy foods to eat when you want sweets! It might be difficult at the beginning, but your palate will adjust to the more natural level of sweetness in fruit before you know it! By the end of a week, you’ll be reaping the benefits of a healthy no-sugar diet.

Yield: 2