Helpful Tips to Curb Sugar Cravings
Sugar can be hard to break free from. Why? Well, it tastes SO good. Yet, it is possible to start to crave sugar less often and to begin to eat healthier, nutritious foods instead.
And once you do start to resist the urge more regularly, you will see that you can stick with a clean eating plan that makes up mostly protein, veggies, fruit, good fats, and fibrous foods. Plus, when you do eat sugar, it’ll taste super sweet and delicious—if you’ve been a sugar addict, you might need more sugar now to get the same desired effect than you would’ve before.
Here are a few ways to start to eat less sugar and pile your plate with more wholesome foods.
Slowly Taper Down Your Intake
Start eliminating it from the diet in little ways. Ditch the sugar when you take your morning coffee—try stevia if you need and then try and go all black. Begin using less in cooking and not adding it to drinks and yogurts. Go for plain yogurt and add fresh berries instead of the fruit at the bottom ones. As you begin to eat less of it, your body will start to need less too—and you will see those cravings decrease steadily with time.
Go for Natural Sweetness
There’s no need to give up a sugary sensation—it tastes great! You should indulge. Yet, you can swap out cookies, donuts and other high fat, sweet foods that are made with frying or other not-so-great techniques and exchange for natural sweetness, as found in fresh produce, for example.
Instead of eating cake or candy, have an apple with some nut butter for dessert. The apple is sweet! Or even put some honey on an apple with vanilla yogurt, for another example. Get fancier? Try berries with whipped cream and a little chocolate drizzle—that’s just like dessert!
Drink Water First
If you feel a sugar craving coming on, stop and drink a glass or two of water first. Chances are you are thirsty, not hungry, and that’s why you are craving something sugary and delicious. Wait a bit to see if you are still hungry—let the water register fullness in your body first. Either way, if you’re hungry, the water may help clear your mind to make a healthier decision for what to grab as a snack.
Eat More Protein
If you want a sweet snack, eat it with a protein, and it will keep blood sugar stable. Without spikes, you might not get the same effects and cravings that you would without the protein source. If you have a square of dark chocolate, eat it with a string cheese or jerky. If you want a sweet, try a protein bar for that taste but with those 20 grams of satiating protein, too.
