A common factor amongst people that are trying to engage in a healthier lifestyle is that they really miss eating sweet food. And by sweet food, I don’t mean naturally sweet fruits such as an apple or banana. No, I mean foods with lots of added sugars such as candy, coca-cola, cake, and all that not-so good but oh-so good stuff. This post will help you kick sugar cravings without depriving yourself.

Kick Sugar Cravings Stat

Sugar cravings are no joke. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate, which are important for a healthy and well functioning human body. Again, the type of sugar most people think of is not the type of sugar needed for a healthy body. Avoid foods with added sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup, that are typically found in highly processed junk food. And don’t be fooled by companies who put “natural cane sugar.” All that means is…sugar! Focus more on eating foods that naturally contain sugar, such as fruits and whole grains. Now that’s a whole other topic and I’ll do a more in-depth post on the different types of sugars found in foods. For now, let’s just focus on helping you to kick your sweet tooth habit!

The inspiration for this post actually came from a good friend of mine who is known for her love of sweet treats! It got me thinking how most people, myself included, have a sweet tooth and how it can really be a killer for people who are actively trying to lose, or maintain their weight. The following are some tips that helped me kick sugar cravings, and I hope they work for you too.

Realistic Tips TO kick sugar cravings

1. The first and MOST IMPORTANT thing in my mind, is to understand why are actively making the choice to stop eating/eat less sweet things. It can be for any reason – to lose weight, be healthier, whatever. Just choose a solid reason that is important for you so that you can always remind yourself WHY you want to kick your sweet tooth.
2. Transition slowly and don’t expect any big changes overnight. If you have spent 10+ years of your life you cannot expect to kick the habit straightaway. I am not saying it will take you another 10+ years to kick your sweet tooth, but it does take time. Be realistic.
3. Start incorporating more fruits with a high amount of fiber into your diet. Most fruits taste wonderful and contain naturally occurring fructose (a type of sugar), which is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth. The beauty of choosing a higher fiber fruit is that you’ll stay fuller for longer than if you ate fruit with less fiber. My personal fave dessert is either Fage 0% Greek Yogurt mixed with half a cup of frozen blueberries, or raspberries, mixed together, or just plain old medjool dates (but go easy on dates as they have a lot of calories).
4. Kick sugar cravings by incorporating more vegetables and high fiber foods into your diet. Fiber-rich foods are great for curbing your sweet tooth because they keep you satisfied and fuller for longer – especially when paired with protein. Go back to basics and reach for GG crackers and pair it with avocado or low-fat cheese. 
5. Be really wary of marketing. The snack industry is extremely smart in making you think a snack looks healthy, but if you read the label, oftentimes there will be tons of added sugar. Read the ingredients list and see if cane sugar, or another version of sugar, appears towards the beginning of the ingredients list. The higher up the ingredients, the more prominently it features in your snack.
6. Really do your research and find some great new recipes to try. Be sure to make meals that contain little to no added sugar (that goes for things like honey and maple syrup too — they’re essentially sugar at the end of the day)! Check out some of my recipes for a great healthy meal and low-sugar desserts. Start making these and transitioning towards a healthier and more wholesome lifestyle. Identify a day during the week where you can spend 1-2 hour meal prepping for the rest of the week. If you’re really in a pinch, throw food into a crockpot, leave it overnight and wake up to a delicious, healthy meal!
7. Exercise! If you have time, go for a quick run, invest in the Anna Victoria Fit Body App,  or do a free Pilates video from Blogilates whenever you feel the urge to eat something sugary. It is a great distraction and healthy for you too.
8. Be accountable. You can do this by telling your friends and family that you want to try and eat less sugary foods, so that they can check in with you, and see how your journey is going. I have found that having someone saying ‘NO, do not do this’ is not necessarily helpful. But having a support system who will help motivate you works wonders 🙂
9. Get a like minded buddy and both commit to slowly decreasing sugary foods. Text, tweet, Facebook each other to keep each other motivated and uplifted.
10. Go back to tip #1 and repeat your reason to kick the sweet tooth habit 🙂

I hope this helps you all! Like I said, it is not an easy thing to do, and there are times I indulge in a sugary treat, but if you do then be mindful and go ahead. Balance is key, and depriving yourself, and being overly strict will back fire on you. If possible, try and identify what you’re craving and have a healthier version if possible. For example, if you’re craving ice-cream, maybe you can have frozen banana “ice-cream” instead of the real thing. But again, if all you want is a gelato, then go for it!

Good luck and let me know if this has helped you 🙂

Honestly yours,
Alice

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