When the craving hits hard for something sweet, there really isn’t anything that can stand in our way. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to indulge in a sweet snack when you feel the need. Not everything in this world that tastes good is bad for you; it is possible to satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way.
Chocolate lover? Avoid milk chocolate, dark is the new skinny. If you are going to reach for some chocolate, dark chocolate is the way to go. A dark chocolate that is more than 70 percent cacao is packed with antioxidants and fiber and can actually help to lower blood pressure. We don’t recommend that you eat one chocolate bar a day though—they can still be high in sugar—but this is a great substitute for milk chocolate when you just can’t say no. Even better, we encourage you to try ChocoPerfection Dark and Milk Chocolate bars in place of a high sugar candy bar. ChocoPerfection bars are low in sugar, high in fiber and will keep your body in the fat burning zone when used in moderation.
Here are a few guilt-free recipes to try:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fat Bombs
Ingredients:
1/2 cup organic virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter (with less than 5 grams of sugar)
2-3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2-4 tablespoons Agave (or sweetened to taste) NOTE: If using these in a Keto diet you’ll need to go with a keto-friendly sweetener like Stevia)
Splash of vanilla extract (optional)
Directions:
Melt coconut oil and peanut butter in a large skillet over low heat. Stir in cocoa powder. Stir in agave. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract (optional). Transfer to spouted cup and pour mixture into silicone candy molds. (Approximately one tablespoon each.) Freeze or refrigerate until set. Remove from molds and store in the fridge in an airtight container. Enjoy one fat bomb when you’re having a sweet craving or to curb your appetite. Note: These bombs are the bomb, but a little can go a long way as they are calorie dense. So, limit yourself to no more than one bomb every so often and not daily.
Chocolate Banana Cashew Smoothie
3 oz. nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
1/2 frozen Banana
1/4 avocado
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 cup chocolate soy milk
Small handful of cashews
1/2 cup ice or water
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a good blender, set to smoothie option, and blend to desired consistency. For an extra boost of protein you can add 1 scoop of Relaunch Unflavored protein to the chocolate soy milk before adding this to the remaining ingredients.
Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Makes 2 servings. We suggest limiting yourself to 1 serving only.
Ingredients:
2 bananas
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
Directions:
Peel the bananas, slice them and freeze them for at least two hours. Place the frozen bananas in a food processor with the peanut butter and blend well. Enjoy it immediately or freeze in a glass container until solid.
KIND bars can also be a great way to get more healthy whole grains in your diet. They are typically right around 150 calories per bar and have some deliciously sweet flavors like dark chocolate chunk or peanut butter dark chocolate. Not to mention, they only have around eight grams of sugar per bar and contain only real ingredients that you can actually pronounce. Be careful with “healthy” snack bars like KIND and other brands, however, as they often contain added sugar. (Here’s a look at the fat, calorie and sugar content of KIND bars.)
The latest trend that is starting to catch some traction is dessert tea. Stash™ is a great brand with some really delicious new teas that will satisfy your sweet tooth. With flavors like Salted Caramel Mate, Vanilla Nut Crème and Red Velvet, these teas are decadent.
For some of us, avoiding the craving for something sweet happens multiple times per day. Instead of diving into a sweet filled with sugar and saturated fat, give one of these a try so you can eliminate the feeling of regret after your sweet snack. You will be proud of yourself in the long run and maybe even lose a few pounds.
