Needing Dessert Every Night

Kath712 · January 2012

I have the same problem, but mine is not just chocolate. So I picked up some of that dessert gum by extra. I tried the Apple pie and it is great. Helped me with my craving for sweets after a meal

The chocolate mint ice cream flavor is really good, too!

Although I agree that there are a lot of healthy substitutes out there, sometimes you just gotta have the real thing. I have one or two cookies each night. I generally don't have sweets all day, so I have no guilt in that small indulgence. I have slacked off recently, but I used to be much better at logging everything I ate, including my two cookies after dinner. Helps keep me in check.

I think you have to do what works for you, but I highly recommend logging your treat. I've heard that Hershey kisses are a good choice because you have to unwrap each one. They are easy to count out and know your serving size. Enjoy them with a glass of milk or a cup of decaf coffee or tea. Make it an experience, and you will be satisfied.

Marie294 · January 2012

I really like the Chocolate Chip Fiber Plus antioxidant Bars! Full of good stuff and still good and chocolatey

Josie_lifting_cats · January 2012

I love a little chocolate (or wine) after dinner! I have had the same problem as you. When I was down to 1,200 cals a day it was impossible to fit it in. I felt like I was going crazy. But after about 3-4 days I didn't miss it anymore. Then I read some studies on this, took some nutrition classes, and found that it's totally normal to go a couple of days without and then not miss it as much anymore.

That said, if I have chocolate or wine for a day or two after dinner, I want it again for a few days after. It takes a lot of self-discipline to get past that, honestly.

Now that I've been at it for a while, my calorie allowance is a bit higher and I've managed to be able to work something sweet in most nights. As long as you aren't skyrocketing past your fat allowance and staying at or near calories, it's not going to hurt anything to let yourself have a treat!

(Now sweet/salty cycles are REALLY bad.... that's something that I find VERY difficult to break, so I avoid following sweets with salt, because I know it's a weakness for me!)

ernielaurie · January 2012

I love chocolate too!!! I have a lite hot chocolate when I need a fix, it's only 45 calories and I usually can get my fix. Then on the odd occassion that it isn't enough, treat yourself to a bar.

Gemmageldmacher · January 2012

I'm in the same boat! My current fix, which has been working great is as follows: Mix 1 packet of Jello Chocolate Fudge Fat Free/Sugar Free instant pudding mix with 2C of milk (works best with whole, or 2%). Pour into ice cube trays before it completely gels (for me it makes about 17 total). Once it gels, stick toothpicks in each. Freeze. They are wonderful little snacks, and because it takes you so long to eat it, they are really satisfying. Hope you try and enjoy!

mblanchard0625 · January 2012

You don't NEED it..... Stop and think, are you hungry? Don't let food control you.

If you are hungry, try dipping apple slices in nutella

maryjay51 · January 2012

sugar free chocolate pudding is not bad .. sometimes a serving of chocolate cereal wihtout the milk ..eat it as a snack .. i rid myself of my choclate addiction thankfully., it was not easy and its very easy to fall back in to it . but for me thankfully i dont crave it anymore like you do . its like battling alcohol addiction or something lol just awful !!

maryjay51 · January 2012

You don't NEED it..... Stop and think, are you hungry? Don't let food control you.

If you are hungry, try dipping apple slices in nutella

"LIKE"

vingogly · January 2012

Another dessert idea: carton of plain lowfat Greek-style yogurt, grate in some high-quality dark or semi-dark chocolate, stir and eat. Add a little Truvia or other sugar substitute if you need a little more sweetness. Sprinkle some chopped nuts on the top if you desire for the added texture and taste (I like chopped hazelnuts). This is a really, really good dessert that's actually healthful.

firesoforion · January 2012

Yeah I like a little bit of sweet every night. Now if you're "needing" it, I read somewhere on these boards that that's a magnesium deficiency, looked into it out of curiosity and it says that extends particularly to chocolate because it's giving you both the sweet and chocolate has magnesium, so you might try a supplement. Otherwise, just portion it! I love whipped cream for that. Take a little spray of chocolate whipped cream and savor it, sooooooo good, or just like, 3 or 4 M&Ms. Stuff like that. Chocolate milk? Once you start telling yourself you can only have that one taste, that one taste becomes all you need because you truly make the most of it. Portion it and it's no problem at all. It's not about depriving yourself!

EQHanks · January 2012

I can totally relate! I always try to budget my calories so that I can have some kind of chocolate or something sweet.

fairygirl716 · January 2012

I sell chocolate for a living and I manage to eat chocolate every day AND still lose weight. The key is...moderation, quality, and process of consumption.

First of all, dark chocolate is going to shut down that part in your brain that is calling for chocolate. Second, if you are allowing the chocolate to melt in your mouth and you use all 5 of your senses to enjoy the chocolate you will feel satisfied with less. Sure, you will want more...because the sensations you get from enjoying chocolate can be pleasurable. However, you will not NEED more according to your brain.

In my house, my kids know when it is chocolate time and to not bug mom. I take that time out of my day to enjoy my chocolate and to slowly consume it, not allow the need to consume me!

Enjoy your chocolate. But, eat quality chocolate to make it worth it! Sorry...but a snickers or kisses aren't quality chocolate. They are sugar with a little cocoa added for good measure.

UsedToBeHusky · January 2012

@cyrdonian...there's no proof that eating too many sweets causes diabetes...it can cause obesity which can lead to diabetes but one does not directly lead to the other.

And what is the leading cause of Type 2 Diabetes? Say it with me everyone: obesity! It doesn't really matter how you word it... why set yourself up for it?

Because one can be obese without ever getting Type 2 Diabetes. The genetic propensity for it must exist as well.

Oh and... one can develop Type 2 Diabetes without being obese.

cloud2011 · January 2012

I have the same issue. Try some substitutes. If you're eating healthfully, there's probably no harm. But if you would like some variety, try a Kashi Dark Chocolate Coconut Layered Granola Bar. Or a Clif Z Bar either Brownie or Chocolate Chip.

Not the sugar high of a candy bar, but it seems to help me.

Also, believe it or not, I've started eating salads late at night. I like to eat later at night sometimes, but I don't want to ruin my plan.

morgansmom02 · January 2012

I just found this! http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/strawberry-rhubarb-compote.html#more

chubby_checkers · January 2012

i've been eating a jello mousse cup with some strawberries when i need something sweet. use the mousse as a dip = chocolate covered strawberries. ends up being about 109 calories with a cup of strawberry halves.

chantalbennett · January 2012

Plain Greek yogurt with a small squirt of chocolate syrup = HEAVEN.

This is so smart! I will def be trying this

hbrittingham · January 2012

I was the same way before - but challenge yourself and you CAN and WILL get better!
Try cutting the chocolate bar into pieces, then storing them in baggies and only allowing yourself 1/3 bar per night.
Or fewer kisses, etc...
I don't think it's bad to have, but try not to be so dependant on it...

Get better? It sounds like she's a drug addict or something.

Seriously people, eating something sweet every single day is not a bad thing. All of these all or nothing posts are really over the top. Those of us who are treating this as a lifestyle change realize that we can eat anything we'd like to eat, in moderation, and continue to be successful. If you deprive yourself, you'll end up setting yourself up for failure.

I want to succeed and I enjoy chocolate every single day. *GASP* Sometimes twice a day!

alexandria412 · January 2012

I like to set one square of dark chocolate onto half of a graham cracker and pop it in the toaster oven for a few minutes. After the chocolate is soft, I spread it across the cracker and sprinkle a tiny bit of sea salt on top. Sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy, and the prep time is long enough that I can usually talk myself down from a second.

I don't think there is anything wrong with "needing" a dessert or sweet snack every night, so long as it isn't affecting other aspects of your life. For example, if abstaining from dessert makes you so cranky that you snap at your significant other, that's a problem.

GC131618 · January 2012

What I keep in my fridge for such situations are Jello SUGAR FREE pudding snacks. They have the reg chocolate ones, or the vanilla chocolate ones. With them being sugar free puts it at 60 cals per package only. The plus side is that they dont even taste like they are missing the sugar. Hope this was helpful.

trud72 · January 2012

it leads to a food orgy.

lol that sounds good to me!

Lillemeddy · January 2012

I find that drinking a cup of no sugar added hot chocolate helps me out! No more than 50-60 calories, and it really does the trick. If you look in my food diary, you can see I have one almost every day.

mstoya7 · January 2012

I too have a sweet tooth so I can totally understand. I usually buy the Fiber One Chocolate brownies. They are only 90 calories and they are delicious. They are just the right size and have enough chocolate in them to fix your sweet tooth. The come like 6 in a pack I think. Try them, I'm sure you'll like them

Jomalone2 · January 2012

I don't think she meant "needing" dessert as in if she doesn't get it, she goes through withdrawals as if she was in rehab. I'm a sugar LOVER and I absolutely eat chocolate all the time. I suggest buying mini sizes. You can usually get 3 or 4 of those and slowly decrease the number of times a week you eat it. This is about a lifestyle, so if you can't see yourself not eating chocolate forever, then don't do it! I love it, so I'm not gonna stop eating it, but I will watch my portions.

Everything in moderation is the key.

She may not have meant it but I know I "need" it and honestly feel like a drug addict craving/needing drugs. I say that with all seriousness, nothing joking about it. I find myself having to "detox" from the sweets and it isn't easy at all. Once I have detoxed and gone through total withdrawals for about a week or so I am okay but it only takes one cookie, piece of cake, etc., for me to fall off the wagon. I looked into FAA (Food Addicts Anonymous) but we don't have any groups around where I live but in reading through their literature I believe some of us are prone to certain addictions including certain foods (sweets, caffeine, etc.,). So to tell me to have a cookie, in moderation, is like telling an alcoholic that it is okay to have one drink, in moderation. If you don't have the addiction, you don't understand - some can do it in moderation, some can't. I can't. (Wish I could!)

ladylu11 · January 2012

I sometimes have Sugar Free Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream and warm up a Fiber One Chocolate Brownie to go with it

jaqiswany · January 2012

Weight watchers do some Belgian Chocolate Mousse Deserts which are really low and really chocolatey would they help maybe? they come in a fair sized pot too not a teeny pot. Aslo sugar free jelly is really low and good for satifying a sweet tooth. You could always put some grapes or chopped fruit in the jelly to bulk it out a little .

Good luck

monicamk1975 · January 2012

I have some dark chocolate every night and have since I started this journey. I try to keep it around 2 squares or so and fit it within my calories. It keeps me from feeling deprived and I have had great success to date. I say enjoy it if you want it, just keep it in small portions

Workinmom1986 · January 2012

If you look up on the south beach diet they have this GREAT recipie for a chocolate dessert and ill tell you its totaly amazing.

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
2 packets trivia (or some no cal natrual sweetner)
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 Tb Scharffen unsweetened cocoa powder

Mix well.

you can use ANY kind of flavoring if you dont lik the almond. i have used lemon (actual lemon juice as well as extract) orange vanilla raspberry anything you could totaly go crazy with this AND its healthy!

APO_Katie · January 2012

Try just a square or two of REALLY dark choclate. Like 67-85% cacoa. That should hit your craving on the head and cut back on the sugar.

ashleymcquown · January 2012

I got an awesome book recently called "400 Calorie Fix". It shows you what 400 cals looks like at every meal (hello portion control...my biggest challenge) and it includes deserts and snacks. Sometimes I'll make a meal out of a treat, like an ice cream sandwich or a coffee drink with sugar. As long as you aren't eating treats for every meal, you should be able to get the right balance of nutrition and calorie control within these limits. I'm on about 1600 cals a day but you should be able to get a sweet or two in at 1200. I happen to really like those fiber one 90 cal bars. Pair that with a salad and you should be good to go : )

Needing Dessert Every Night

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