Many people have a natural preference for sweet foods. However, high sugar intake isn’t great for your body. Fortunately, there are ways to satisfy your cravings without eating too many artificial sweeteners! Keep reading to learn these six healthy diet tips for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Reasons We Crave Sugar
If you crave sugary foods, you’re not alone! According to studies in Eating behaviors and Food Cravings, 90 percent of the adult population experiences sugary food cravings. Many scientists believe the cravings derive from people’s desire to boost their mood because eating sweet foods increases serotonin levels in the brain. Here are a few other reasons people crave sugar:
Emotional Stress
If you’re experiencing stress in any area of your life, you may seek sugary foods for comfort because they increase serotonin levels, making you feel better.
Lack of Sleep
Studies show that a lack of sleep can contribute to an increase in sugar and salt cravings. Scientists notice that people tend to make poor food choices when tired.
High Sugar Intake
The more sugar you eat, the more sugar your body will crave. When you consume sweet foods regularly, you grow a strong preference for that food.
Frequent Consumption of Artificial Sweeteners
Did you know that zero-calorie sweeteners can change your sensitivity to sugar? They can make you desire more sweets!
Healthy Diet Tips
Although a sweet tooth is common, eating too much sugar can lead to health problems. Frequent consumption of sugary foods increases your chances of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and inflammation.
Fortunately, there are ways to satisfy your sweet tooth without excessive amounts of sugar! Check out these helpful tips below.
Incorporate Candy Flavoring Oils in Your Recipes
Although candy is yummy, the extra sugar isn’t good for your body. However, you don’t have to let go of that confection flavor. Incorporating candy flavoring oils in your recipes allows you to replicate the taste of your favorite sweet treat. A few drops of oil will enhance your favorite recipes without the added sugar! With options like Cotton Candy, Gummy Worm, and Dulce De Leche, you will enjoy the amazing flavor.
Add Berries to Your Diet
Berries are a great food selection for satisfying a craving because they are sweet, rich in fiber, and low in sugar! In addition, berries have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. If you’re interested in an awesome recipe with berries, consider this berry frozen yogurt recipe:
Very Berry Frozen Yogurt
Ingredients: 2 cups of frozen berries, ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Instructions: Add the frozen berries, yogurt, and honey to a food processor or blender. Blend for 3 minutes or until the mixture is creamy (smoothie-like texture). Next, transfer the mixture in a freezable container and freeze for at least four hours, or overnight. The frozen yogurt can store in your freezer up to two weeks.
Find Naturally Sweetened Snack Bars
All snack bars are different, and many are high in sugar and fat. However, if you want to satisfy your craving, choose naturally sweetened snack bars instead of ones with artificial sugars. Snack bars sweetened with plant-based options like oats and dried fruit are better for you! In general, the best snack bars have nutritious ingredients high in fiber, and are naturally sweet.
Make Homemade Trail Mix
If you’re a snacker, trail mix is the perfect treat for you. Mix various nuts, dried fruits, and cereal to create a mix that you love. Instead of eating candy bars or sugary treats, you can eat a nutritious combination of snack foods. If you need ideas on what to add to your trail mix, consider these add-ins:
- Dried cherries
- Pumpkin seeds
- Almonds
- Raisins
- Dried banana chips
- Coconut shavings
Try Recipes With Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a “holy grail” food for sugar cravings because they’re naturally sweet, filling, and versatile! You can roast, mash, or puree the potato and incorporate it into different recipes. Try roasting sweet potato chunks with a sprinkle of cinnamon and paprika for a tasty side dish. You can never go wrong with this great food option!
Create Healthy, yet Sweet Desserts
After a long day or tasty meal, you may want something sweet. Thankfully, you can create healthy desserts that don’t contain high amounts of sugar. For example, frozen grapes are a refreshing treat that you can snack on. Fruit salads or yogurt parfaits with pureed berries are also fantastic choices.
Mindful Practices To Follow
Satisfying your sugar craving is one thing, but it’s also important to follow mindful practices to understand the root of your cravings, and ways to solve them. Check out some easy things you can do.
Listen to Your Body
When you crave something, you have an intense urge or abnormal desire for that thing. However, just because you want something sweet doesn’t mean you have to run to high-sugar food. Try eating a piece of fruit and then take a minute to listen to your body. Do you feel stressed? Do you have a headache? Are you looking for an energy boost? Do you just want a sugary treat?
In some cases, you may “crave” the feeling sugar gives you, but don’t actually want something sweet. Therefore, try alternatives like taking a break from work or walking around to relieve stress and boost energy.
Pay Attention to Patterns
When do you want a sweet treat the most? Perhaps a craving hits you around three o’clock in the afternoon, or maybe you can’t resist ice cream after dinner. Recognize your pattern of confection desires to make effective changes. For example, eating a high-protein snack can become a midday “pick-me-up” that doesn't lead to a sugar craving in the afternoon.
Eat Balanced Meals
Meals with protein, vegetables, and healthy carbs and fats will keep you fuller longer. Balanced meals stabilize blood sugar, so you won’t hanker for overly sweetened treats. Therefore, it’s best to focus on making all your meals balanced and nutritious!
Enlist Support
If you constantly surround yourself with sugary foods, it will be hard to manage your sweet treat intake. That’s why it’s important to speak up and make changes in your home, school, or workplace. When people understand that you’re trying to limit your sugar intake, they can support your initiative and avoid offering too many desserts.
After reading these six healthy diet tips for anyone with a sweet tooth, you can better manage your cravings! If you’re interested in purchasing candy flavoring oils, you should consider Get Suckered. As the top concentrated flavor manufacturer, we guarantee great products that will add a layer of “wow” to all your recipes!
