Alternative Sweets?

vbcp861 · January 12, 2020 1:03PM

Hey all!

Maintaining my weight at this point. But I have a huge sweet tooth. Any advice on specific sweet alternatives for chocolate or ice creams? I'm a person that loves rich flavors. But I'm looking for something to control that craving to help with splurging. (example, sometimes I keep 90% dark chocolate on hand).

Any suggestions is helpful!

Pamela_Sue · January 13, 2020 3:12AM

It depends on your ability to keep sweets in the house without overeating. I struggle with this, so I find something I like, but do not love. For chocolate I keep pudding cups in the fridge cause I'll only eat one. And every 2 or 3 weeks, I will buy a 2-pack of Chilly Cow Ice Cream, but don't buy more cause I'll eat it all.

Rather an experimental process for each of us. Wish you the best.

apullum · January 13, 2020 3:22AM

For those who are able to stop at just the amount they intended to eat, then I would generally recommend budgeting calories for what you want. However, if you are not confident that you can stop with that amount, one thing I've been doing lately is tea with various flavored sugar free syrups. They're not going to taste the same as chocolate or ice cream, but they're nice.

swimmchick87 · January 13, 2020 4:39AM

I've been really into the Chocolate Hummus from Trader Joe's, if you have one in your area. Keep in mind that it's not going to taste like chocolate ice cream or a tub of chocolate icing. IMO it doesn't have a weird "hummus" taste either and is a good lightly sweet taste. I've tried it with an apple and raspberries because that's what I had on hand. I'm sure strawberries would be good too. I typically eat 2 servings (4 tablespoons) which is still only 100 calories. It also helps me get in a serving of fruit/makes the fruit a lot more interesting.

For ice cream, some of the Halo Top flavors are good but I found it wasn't great for me because I need to work on portion sizes. While I technically could fit in a whole pint into my calorie day, I don't need to be eating a whole pint of ice cream. For me that just leads to eating a whole pint of "real" ice cream later. I now prefer Chilly Cow because it comes in more reasonable servings and also tastes more like real ice cream.

KalesBagel · January 13, 2020 5:06AM

I like bakers chocolate, the 100% cocoa, but I know not everyone likes that.

Also, I've started eating plain Greek yogurt with cucumbers and in a weird way that seemed to help with my sweet tooth.

Also, it's hard to over indulge on fruit usually (not for everyone), so sometimes I'll keep fruit around since I'm less likely to grab it.

apullum · January 13, 2020 5:26AM

swimmchick87 wrote: »

I've been really into the Chocolate Hummus from Trader Joe's, if you have one in your area. Keep in mind that it's not going to taste like chocolate ice cream or a tub of chocolate icing. IMO it doesn't have a weird "hummus" taste either and is a good lightly sweet taste. I've tried it with an apple and raspberries because that's what I had on hand. I'm sure strawberries would be good too. I typically eat 2 servings (4 tablespoons) which is still only 100 calories. It also helps me get in a serving of fruit/makes the fruit a lot more interesting.

For ice cream, some of the Halo Top flavors are good but I found it wasn't great for me because I need to work on portion sizes. While I technically could fit in a whole pint into my calorie day, I don't need to be eating a whole pint of ice cream. For me that just leads to eating a whole pint of "real" ice cream later. I now prefer Chilly Cow because it comes in more reasonable servings and also tastes more like real ice cream.

I like the chocolate hummus with ricotta on toast. But it doesn't really taste like chocolate to me.

PAPYRUS3 · January 13, 2020 5:33AM

Since you like/miss ice cream, you might like this. It's like 'Protein Fluff' minus the protein powder...The protein powder would most likely thicken it up too. And the flavor used would make it taste pretty good too I'm assuming...
I also absolutely LOVE dark cocoa powder...10 calories/tbsp. - get to mix in yogurt or I even mix it into cottage cheese with stevia/sweetener.

Equipment:

You NEED to have a powerful blender - like a Vitamix (I have a Ninja 'Professional' blender)

First - to make a chocolate/mocha one (my favorite):

1/8 cup of cold strong coffee into blender
Add 3/4 tsp. to 1 tsp. of Xanthum gum (keeps it less icy and really thickens it up – I also find it gives it ‘texture’)
1 -2tbsp.

of vanilla/caramel extract and sweetener of choice ( I use Stevia)
*I’ve been now using stevia along with some Salted Chocolate/Espresso Jordan Skinny Syrup too!
2+TBSP. of dark cocoa powder (or more if you like)
Add 1/4 tray of ice - blender to break up. Add another ¼ and blend. Keep adding ice cubes until you get ‘right’ consistency. Blend.

Put in freezer for an hour or so and then it's 'ready' - or just eat the fluff straight away (much more like ice cream though if you freeze it) Add whatever to make it yummy - berries, etc.,

Not bad for around 25-30 calories!

wendyheath32 · January 13, 2020 8:08AM

Split Dates, peanut butter ( or any type of nut butter come to that ) with a little dark chocolate

reversemigration · January 13, 2020 8:30AM

A bit of sugar-free chocolate pudding mix whipped into some plain greek yogurt helps to blunt my chocolate cravings. I imagine that using one of the low-calorie alt-milks instead would cut calories even further.

After41 · January 13, 2020 11:32AM

Those Fudgsicle 'no sugar added' bars only have 40 calories. They helped me in the past. I also go for sugar free jello and puddings.

katsheare · January 13, 2020 4:08PM

KalesBagel wrote: »

I like bakers chocolate, the 100% cocoa, but I know not everyone likes that.

Also, I've started eating plain Greek yogurt with cucumbers and in a weird way that seemed to help with my sweet tooth.

Also, it's hard to over indulge on fruit usually (not for everyone), so sometimes I'll keep fruit around since I'm less likely to grab it.

Okay, a) gotta give that a try; b) how on earth did you stumble across that?!; and c) it really does go to show that the possibilities are endless!

If I'm craving something like a Snickers (doesn't happen too often, but it does happen), I love a date with maybe 15g almond butter and a little bit of sea salt. (similar to @wendyheath32 but I find dates have a chocolate-ish flavour of their own)

I also will have portioned out servings of the gummy sweets I love. I keep them in MFP and put them in my diary before I leave work for the day. But I can just have one serving (when I've pre-measured it) generally. I have a history of eating way too many dried fruits, so they get the same treatment.

angmarie28 · January 13, 2020 4:21PM

Halo top Ice cream. I just tried the blueberry crumble one last night, so good.

fdlewenstein · January 13, 2020 4:28PM

I usually try a cup of coffee with real whipping cream or a can of Zevia soda. Most times that helps my sweet craving. If not, I make my own hot chocolate (113 cal, 1.4 g fat, 11 g carbs, 4.8 g protein) if I have not met my daily macro/cal intake.

AnnPT77 · January 13, 2020 4:34PM

* Fruit (including experimenting with less standard (to me) ones like jackfruit, guavas, rambutan, whatever),
* unsugared dried fruit in small portions (especially mangos),
* Frozen Yasso Greek yogurt bars (100 cals but some nutrition),
* small but rich individual chocolate,
* Frozen unsugared fruit (especially dark cherries or mixed berries) mixed with mixed-together nonfat Greek yogurt and chocolate PB2
* Individual cups of Edy's slow-churned (reduced calorie but not artificially sweetened) ice cream (around 180 calories, but I don't find things like Halo top satisfying, and find artificial sweeteners unpleasant-tasting)

I'm really more of a savory/salty snacker, though, so things like crispy broad beans, pickles, a small portion of rich cheese on a couple lower-cal crackers - that sort of thing.

cindypalmer007 · January 13, 2020 4:53PM

Crepini (egg white califlower crepe) from costco. Neutral wrapper, good for sweet or savory (0 carb, 8 calories)
Add filling ie: 1/2 Tb. almond butter + swerve brown sugar + pecan bits...or any filling that works on your plan. I like to start with my last food for the day (sweet) and move backwards twards breakfast on MFP when Im planning for the day.

Diatonic12 · January 13, 2020 5:05PM

Fruit, fruit, fruit. I've never been on a fruit bender in my entire lifetime. A piece of fruit does it for me every single time and it took some time to remember fruit is always there. Don't let anyone tell you fruit is bad or will ruin your diet or cause weight gain.

brenn24179 · January 13, 2020 5:05PM

i like a mini kind bar or rice cake w/pnut butter and a little jelly. I also eat a little choc every day, a little, maybe 1 candy kiss. I freeze them.

amusedmonkey · January 13, 2020 5:17PM

katsheare wrote: »

KalesBagel wrote: »

I like bakers chocolate, the 100% cocoa, but I know not everyone likes that.

Also, I've started eating plain Greek yogurt with cucumbers and in a weird way that seemed to help with my sweet tooth.

Also, it's hard to over indulge on fruit usually (not for everyone), so sometimes I'll keep fruit around since I'm less likely to grab it.

Okay, a) gotta give that a try; b) how on earth did you stumble across that?!; and c) it really does go to show that the possibilities are endless!

If I'm craving something like a Snickers (doesn't happen too often, but it does happen), I love a date with maybe 15g almond butter and a little bit of sea salt. (similar to @wendyheath32 but I find dates have a chocolate-ish flavour of their own)

I also will have portioned out servings of the gummy sweets I love. I keep them in MFP and put them in my diary before I leave work for the day. But I can just have one serving (when I've pre-measured it) generally. I have a history of eating way too many dried fruits, so they get the same treatment.

It's a known snack/side dish in some regions. Greek yogurt, grated or cubed cucumbers (I like cubed for the texture), pressed garlic, dried mint (enough to give it a speckled look but not so much as to overpower), and salt. Very tasty. You could also add EVOO, but that adds calories I can do without, so I leave it out.

rheddmobile · January 13, 2020 5:45PM

I put cacao powder (not cocoa powder, this is straight ground up cacao nibs with no sugar added) in everything. Coffee, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, almond butter. Cacao powder and vanilla extract. It’s too bitter for most people but if you like 90% dark chocolate you would probably enjoy it. Berries for sweetness sometimes. I use Zint brand. About ten calories’ worth turns anything into a rich dark chocolate treat.

angmarie28 · January 13, 2020 6:03PM

PAPYRUS3 wrote: »

Since you like/miss ice cream, you might like this. It's like 'Protein Fluff' minus the protein powder...The protein powder would most likely thicken it up too. And the flavor used would make it taste pretty good too I'm assuming...
I also absolutely LOVE dark cocoa powder...10 calories/tbsp. - get to mix in yogurt or I even mix it into cottage cheese with stevia/sweetener.

Equipment:

You NEED to have a powerful blender - like a Vitamix (I have a Ninja 'Professional' blender)

First - to make a chocolate/mocha one (my favorite):

1/8 cup of cold strong coffee into blender
Add 3/4 tsp. to 1 tsp. of Xanthum gum (keeps it less icy and really thickens it up – I also find it gives it ‘texture’)
1 -2tbsp.
of vanilla/caramel extract and sweetener of choice ( I use Stevia)
*I’ve been now using stevia along with some Salted Chocolate/Espresso Jordan Skinny Syrup too!
2+TBSP. of dark cocoa powder (or more if you like)
Add 1/4 tray of ice - blender to break up. Add another ¼ and blend. Keep adding ice cubes until you get ‘right’ consistency. Blend.

Put in freezer for an hour or so and then it's 'ready' - or just eat the fluff straight away (much more like ice cream though if you freeze it) Add whatever to make it yummy - berries, etc.,

Not bad for around 25-30 calories!

you can make protein fluff without ice, then all you need is electric beaters. Ive made it a few times, you can find recipes online

bunnehfais · January 13, 2020 6:05PM

Fruits, dark chocolate, and Halo Top ice cream are my go tos

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Alternative Sweets?

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