Did you know the more sugar you eat the more sugar your body craves? It is a vicious cycle!
We hear all the time how difficult it is to eat less sugar, either when one is trying to lose weight or just trying to eat healthier. Things like being tired and eating sweets to give you energy or eating a lot of sweets recently because of an event or holiday make it even more difficult because the more sugar you eat the more you crave it. I have a major sweet tooth, so does my husband, so learning how to handle our sweet cravings was a real challenge. We have, however, learned one major tip to help handle sweet cravings: fruit smoothies, or any fruit-based snack (even just a handful of blueberries).
Fruit smoothies are our saving grace. I can’t count how many times one of us has said “I want dessert,” and the other has responded “We don’t need more dessert. How about we make a smoothie?” Life saver! Smoothies are quick and easy and can be extremely sweet (depending on what ingredients you put in). They really are a great way to satiate your sweet craving without all the downsides and calories of processed sugar.
Here are two of our favorite, sweet smoothie recipes to get you started:
1) Classic with a Tropical Twist
Fresh bananas
Frozen blueberries
Frozen strawberries
Frozen mango
Milk or apple juice (super good with apple juice too!)
2) All the “ies” with a little “ana”
Fresh bananas
Frozen blueberries
Frozen strawberries
Frozen blackberries
Frozen cherries
Milk or your favorite milk substitute
We never measure how much of anything we put in our smoothies; we just kind of eyeball everything. That said, being the starving artist types that Dan and I are, we tend to go a little heavier on the cheaper fruit, mango, strawberries and bananas, and go a little lighter on the more expensive fruit, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries. However, the more you add of the really sweet fruit, mangos, blueberries, cherries and bananas (strawberries and blackberries can be really sweet or can be a little more sour, just a hit or miss), the sweeter your smoothie is liable to be.
Of course, there are millions of smoothie recipe options, additions, and variants, so if these don’t quite float your boat don’t knock all smoothies. Unless you can’t stand the texture of a frozen drink, chances are good there is some flavor combination that will fit your taste!
This blog was contributed by our Pilates instructor Kaethe Birkner.
Want more tips for handling your sweet cravings or losing weight? Schedule your free 90 minute consultation.
Addie Kelzer is a certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant. She believes that by making fitness and good food practical, her clients will hold the power to positively change their health and the health of those closest to them.