Tricks for killing sweets cravings?

Rickbottom
Rickbottom Posts: 7
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
Anyone have any good go-to's to nix a craving for sweets. I know low carb eating eliminates cravings but I can't stick to it so I am trying to eat a balanced diet which includes carbs, even at dinner. I can stay well within my calorie goal during the day but sometimes, at the end of the day, I crave something sweet. Yesterday I had nothing in the house but some Lidl baklava, I bought just to try. Bad idea. I ended up over calorie goal due to 400 cal of Baklava (!), and it was not even good baklava. Any suggestions on how I could satisfy that craving without adding mega calories?
Ps - I will NEVER buy Baklava again. ;)
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Replies

  • libbydoodle11
    libbydoodle11 Posts: 1,351 Member
    You can try a piece of fruit.
  • cantumelia
    cantumelia Posts: 59 Member
    Tetris! When you crave for sugar just play tetris or some other puzzle game. There's even some research about it.
  • cantumelia
    cantumelia Posts: 59 Member
    And sweet, fruity teas ;)
  • katieobrienps300
    katieobrienps300 Posts: 140
    Dark chocolate (like 85 percent) with some almonds
  • Rickbottom
    Rickbottom Posts: 7
    That's interesting about the tetris, definitely worth a try. I am drinking non-caffeinated, zero cal teas all day long and this is a fruit abundant household, they won't curb it for me. Dark chocolate does work I but did not have any last night - but with almonds, that's a new one, that sounds satisfying! Thanks everyone.
  • Lasmartchika
    Lasmartchika Posts: 3,440 Member
    A spoonful of honey.

    Mmmm..... baklava. I haven't had any in forever and a day. I should find a recipe and make some.
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    Frozen banana slices kill ice cream cravings for me. You can blend them up and make an ice cream-ish dessert, but I find that a bit too much faffing about and prefer just eating the frozen banana. The slices have the same chewy texture as some ice cream bars. I love it. :)
  • cantumelia
    cantumelia Posts: 59 Member
    Edulcorated fruity jellys have almost no calories and give a nice sensation of fullness.
  • cantumelia
    cantumelia Posts: 59 Member
    Frozen bananas! Sounds delicious. I'm trying it! Perhaps with cinnamon...mmmm
  • ThePhoenixIsRising
    ThePhoenixIsRising Posts: 781 Member
    Do you tend to crave fatty sweets? To you have enough fat in your diet? Have you tried to increase the fat you eat around the times you crave?

    Peanutbutter is a good way to do this and still get a bit of that sweet still. I find most times I crave sweets it is when I haven't had a good fat source in a while and the sweet things I want are all high fat. Honey or gummy candies just wouldn't satisfy.

    Just something to look at.
  • cantumelia
    cantumelia Posts: 59 Member
    When I crave some fats I eat some olives. Here in Spain peanut butter is not easily found. Plus olives are healthier ;)
  • katieobrienps300
    katieobrienps300 Posts: 140
    You guys don't have much peanut butter over there? Oh dear!
  • ThePhoenixIsRising
    ThePhoenixIsRising Posts: 781 Member
    cantumelia wrote: »
    When I crave some fats I eat some olives. Here in Spain peanut butter is not easily found. Plus olives are healthier ;)

    Olives are wonderful! So are avocados, nuts and seeds, cheese, and many other fat sources. I only suggested the peanutbutter because it has a sweet overtone which may help the op transition easer.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I eat sweets, only in moderation, so I make room in my caloric allotment daily for a treat.
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    Hot tea with honey
  • ourtruelovewillneverdie
    ourtruelovewillneverdie Posts: 170 Member
    I either chew a piece of the dessert flavored sugar free gum or have a cup of tea with a tsp of sugar. Sometimes I do allot myself calories throughout the day though if I really want chocolate though.
  • Rickbottom
    Rickbottom Posts: 7
    Going to try the frozen banana slices. I have done the peanut butter trick as well when low carbing, I should have done that smh, much more satisfying than the crazy baklava overkill. I also used to make fat bombs when low carbing - with 85% dark chocolate around coconut oil. They were very satisfying but I fear even calculating the calories. At the point the craving hits, I probably only have 50-100 calories left to play with.
  • ThePhoenixIsRising
    ThePhoenixIsRising Posts: 781 Member
    Rickbottom wrote: »
    Going to try the frozen banana slices. I have done the peanut butter trick as well when low carbing, I should have done that smh, much more satisfying than the crazy baklava overkill. I also used to make fat bombs when low carbing - with 85% dark chocolate around coconut oil. They were very satisfying but I fear even calculating the calories. At the point the craving hits, I probably only have 50-100 calories left to play with.

    Stay on top of your macros through out the day! If fat does help you stay satisfied do t let it get to low before you address it.

    Personally I have to keep at least 60g in my diet spread through the day to keep me even and in control.
  • monicabroadbentswearingen
    monicabroadbentswearingen Posts: 42 Member
    Peanut Butter on Bananas is great. I buy that PB2. In case you don't know what that is, it's powdered Peanut Butter that you add water to. They also have it in Chocolate. I love it. Way less Cal. You can order it on line. Have had lots of friends try it and they all love it. Just a thought. Also maybe put it in your journal to see where it will put you at before eating it then you can maybe decrease how much of it you eat. Hope this helps
  • daniel9797
    daniel9797 Posts: 32 Member
    I always leave room in my calories intake for the day because I am terrible with snacking right before I go to bed. Right now, its a white fudge covered Oreo. Just 1. They only make them around the holidays, so I try to eat as many as I can. Lol. I do enjoy the frozen bananas, also. Sometimes its a tablespoon of peanut butter and others its 5 or 6 skittles. But no matter the day, I leave calories for my bedtime snacks because I'm going to eat them whether I have calories or not.
  • Notreadytoquit
    Notreadytoquit Posts: 235 Member
    1/4 cup raisins &/or dried cranberries, apricot, fig, apples, mango ...

    1-2 tablespoon spicy sweet sunflower seeds ( 1 cup seeds, cayenne, 1 teaspoon xylitol or birch sugar which is part of my Lyme protocol, 1 teaspoon coconut oil)

    8 raw walnuts or 15 raw almonds or 10 raw cashews. Put in small jar & shake to coat with spicy sweet.

    Gave up added sugar cold turkey. Now candy bars make me sick, reinforcing the no sugar lifestyle.

    I cook & grow most foods. Do not use processed products so I am satisfied physically but still crave a treat. This has to be tweaked to fit into my daily calorie allowance. I dehydrate fruits & nuts in season which helps reduce cost.

    Also love apple with chunky peanut or almond butter - 1-2 Tablespoon max.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,005 Member
    Frozen grapes taste like little sorbet pellets. Frozen bananas that have been pureed in the food processor makes a great ice cream substitute. Add a handful of frozen berries to improve the color, or stir in some cacao powder.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    edited November 2014
    Rickbottom wrote: »
    Anyone have any good go-to's to nix a craving for sweets. I know low carb eating eliminates cravings but I can't stick to it so I am trying to eat a balanced diet which includes carbs, even at dinner. I can stay well within my calorie goal during the day but sometimes, at the end of the day, I crave something sweet. Yesterday I had nothing in the house but some Lidl baklava, I bought just to try. Bad idea. I ended up over calorie goal due to 400 cal of Baklava (!), and it was not even good baklava. Any suggestions on how I could satisfy that craving without adding mega calories?
    Ps - I will NEVER buy Baklava again. ;)

    Yes, if you have calories left over, here's what you can do: :smiley:
    1. Take said good sweet out of the cabinet.
    2. Read the label to see serving size and calories.
    3. Decide.
    4. If yes, take a piece out and weigh it.
    5. Log it
    6. Put box away
    7. Eat that serving.

    This is the only way I have been able to get rid of binges and sweet cravings.

    Also, sometime going on a binge means you are not eating enough during the day. What is your calorie goal?

    Though I am fully aware this does not work for everyone, the only way I have been able to handle sweets is to allow myself a small serving, even if it's a really small serving because I'm out of calories for the day.

    Good luck!
  • Bobbie2466
    Bobbie2466 Posts: 15 Member
    I found the chocolate pb2 and the regular pb2 at Target in Maryland. I think that our Wal-mart has it too. If you have a Target and Walmart that sells food in their stores near you you might be able to find it there too.
  • cantumelia
    cantumelia Posts: 59 Member
    Just had frozen bananas for dinner. Yummy! Love the suggestion, thanks a lot :)
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    In a pinch, a tablespoon of chocolate baking chips works--less than 50 calories and if you just put a couple of chips in your mouth at a time and let them melt they can last quite a while!
  • loopingcaterpillar
    loopingcaterpillar Posts: 156 Member
    low cal hot chocolate
  • Ruzuki
    Ruzuki Posts: 136 Member
    I love sweets, so I always save enough calories to have a sugar-free pudding cup. Or sometimes I substitute it for a bite sized Twix bar. The issue with that is having it in the house... you have to be able to stop yourself with one.
  • FitMolly182
    FitMolly182 Posts: 303 Member
    cantumelia wrote: »
    Tetris! When you crave for sugar just play tetris or some other puzzle game. There's even some research about it.

    I really like this idea! A great idea to get your mind off of it AND bonus it's a nonfood idea!

  • salembambi
    salembambi Posts: 5,585 Member
    banana ice cream made with some chocolate almond/soy milk
    twizzlers
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