Dessert?

Queenofthezoo

So, I have been trying the bright line eating program. But I get concerned that it is too low calorie so I have been following the food plan but increasing serving sizes when it follows too far below 1200.
I have treats here and there so I am not 100% following it. But it is helping me with my nutrition, making sure I have plenty of veggies, fruit, some protein, etc.
But how do you decide when treats/dessert are fine. Just a calorie in/calorie out thing?
Hit a certain amount of protein? Special occasions?
When should I just be increasing portions of healthy food vs allowing myself a treat?
I have plenty of calories to have a bowl of icecream or a treat. Or I could log it because I am just above 1200. Or maybe I should be finding something with fiber or protein.
I find myself frozen once I hit my basic nutrition goals.

malibu927

Everyone is different. For me I make sure I have the calories for it every night.

estherdragonbat

I bake once a week and normally keep my desserts to 200 calories or less. We usually have company for Saturday lunch, which takes care of several servings. I have the rest during the week. If it's something with a longer shelf life, like many cookies or frozen desserts, I may keep it longer.

I don't keep desserts I can't moderate in the house, but I might save up calories/budget for something at a family gathering.

MsHarryWinston

I had lemon meringue pie for my first breakfast today soooo...

*Yes on gym days I sometimes have multiple breakfasts... like a hobbit. Lol*

I Iove baking, so I tend to bake with a purpose, mostly high protein recipes. So I can work to make them low/er calorie, please my sweet tooth, and work towards my daily protein goal.

chezmoss

I used to have sorbet but only do this occasionally ow as I'm conscious of all the sugar it.
O% fat free yoghurt had become my new best friend as a snack or desert.
With all sort in toppings ( not all at the same time!) Nuts, berries, dates, maple syrup and nut butters.
I find it great because with just a teaspoon of MS or dates give me the sweet taste and the variety of what I can top it with keeps it fun and it super healthy.

celiah909

I am working on better desserts, at least in my mind. I do a bit of ricotta cheese, some honey, berries, and cacao nibs -- I whip the cheese with the honey and then add everything else. It is so good.

And I do sorbets instead of ice cream.

lorrpb

I suggest that if you are eating only 1200 calories, it all be highly nutritious food. That's not a lot of food and you need the nutrition. Have dessert once a week and on that day plan the extra calories in addition to the nutritious 1200 you start with.

tech_hunter

I second the fat free greek yogurt, I add Walden Farms calorie free raspberry spread and a few drops of stevia and love it! Also, for breakfast sometimes I will throw 3/4 cup egg whites, a scoop and a half of protein powder, a bit of baking powder and some light salt into a blender, whip it up, and make 2 pancakes with it, and put sugar free syrup on it. That can really take the bite out of a sweet tooth moment and you are getting a great dose of protein too!

dfwesq

lorrpb wrote: »

I suggest that if you are eating only 1200 calories, it all be highly nutritious food. That's not a lot of food and you need the nutrition. Have dessert once a week and on that day plan the extra calories in addition to the nutritious 1200 you start with.

Good suggestions! You might also consider adding exercise on your dessert days, to give yourself some extra discretionary calories.

Queenofthezoo

lorrpb wrote: »

I suggest that if you are eating only 1200 calories, it all be highly nutritious food. That's not a lot of food and you need the nutrition. Have dessert once a week and on that day plan the extra calories in addition to the nutritious 1200 you start with.

That is sort of what I am wondering about. I do increase and try to make sure that I get 1200 calories of good food. But some days I have up to 900 exercise calories, on those days even if I only ate back half of the excercise calories, am I eating enough healthy food to splurge on treats or should I be increasing more healthy food calories.

I recognize we aren't supposed to drop below 1200 calories and at that level it needs to be good food. And I recognize that I feel better when I eat less sugar and more nutritionally dense foods. But where is the line that desserts become ok. And when should I just be increasing more nutritionally dense food.
Trying to balance a long term sustainability, healthy eating, and weight loss just overwhelms me some days.
I don't want to white knuckle through life. I really enjoy the healthy food I am eating. And yet sometimes I just want to enjoy a treat with my husband or family. But finding a balance seems to be more difficult than all or nothing approaches.