I can eat brussel sprouts, spinach and beets all day everyday, but the biggest struggle for me to maintain a healthy diet is dessert. I am a sweets addict. I really would eat a row of Oreos, 1 or 2 Dunkin Donuts, some brownies, tiramisu and an apple pie à la mode after every meal if I let myself. Oh and those Keebler Elf Cookies with M&Ms, too. See what I mean? It’s a problem. But I’m not the only one. Most women deal with this same inner battle after lunch and dinner, when you feel like you would wrestle a triceratops for a piece of chocolate. (Oh you’ve never felt that way? ...Me either.)
So although I think the occasional dessert is fine, (and at parties is a must), I can’t allow myself to eat sweets like a maniac 6 days a week like the gremlin inside my belly wants me to, (what?) so I found these tricks help me curb my sweet craving after meals. I really use these tricks all the time and they help me, so I hope they help you too!
8 ways to resist dessert
1. Tea- Drink hot tea or even hot water with lemon after meals, and you'll start to crave it instead. My favorite is Vanilla Chai, but there are lots of dessert teas you can try.
2. Mouthwash- Sometimes you eat dessert because you just want that dinner taste out of your mouth. Try rinsing with mouthwash instead, or brush your teeth if you’re at home. You could even keep a small travel bottle in your desk at work or in your purse. If I’m about to cave and go to the vending machine at 3:00, I use Scope instead. Now you’re fighting weight gain AND gingivitis.
3. Walk- Break your sweets habit by making a new healthy one! Go on a walk after dinner or with your work buddy at lunch. No need to power walk or go too fast since you just ate, but take a nice leisurely stroll to let your food digest. This will also help you feel better if you ate too much and feel full.
4. Ice Chips- Sometimes you just want dessert because you're bored and want something to munch on after dinner while you're watching the Real Housewives. Ice chips are a perfect little snack you can pop in and and take a long time to eat.
5. Picture This- You know that feeling when you've eaten so much you feel like you can't move? It's uncomfortable and gross and you feel like you're going to burst. Imagine that feeling and know that is how you will feel if you eat dessert. Ah- don't you feel lighter already?
6. Suck It Up- Keep a bag of mints or a hard candies like Werthers or Creme Savers on hand for after meals. Only eat one or 2, though.
7. Bathing Suit Season. Those 3 dreaded words are enough to make any woman put down that candy bar. It's all mental... think about summertime, bathing suit shopping, and all the promises you made to yourself last year... Have some self-control, girl.
8. Fruit- You can still enjoy something sweet after a meal without eating a fattening dessert with some refreshing fruit. You can even add a little Cool Whip. Still counts as healthy.
Remember this when all else fails: Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
[diet tips, 8 tips to resist sweets, how to fight a craving, how to resist sweets, how to resist desserts, diet tips, how to eat healthy]
