Are you prone to sugar cravings? They are often due to low blood sugar levels or conditioning over time. But it's possible to manage by changing our behaviours and eating patterns.
Highly refined, highly processed sugary foods, like biscuits, chocolate, lollies, soft-drink, ice-cream, cakes, muffins and slices often make us feel better at the time. But they don’t stop our cravings in the long run. In fact, they cause our blood sugar levels to spike and drop quickly, making us crave more sugar and consequently creating a sugar-craving cycle.
Eat more regularly
Instead of 3 big meals a day, try switching to a small meal every 3-5 hours. These mini meals should be filling and rich in fibre, to help keep sugar cravings at bay. A light protein bowl, or cottage cheese with celery or carrots would work.
Eating ‘little and often’ can help avoid the temptation to indulge in sugar if you feel those pesky hunger pangs creeping in. It’s also a great way to keep your blood sugar levels stable, too.
Eat more fruit
When you cut back on added sugar, your cravings are likely to increase initially. Keep easy-to-eat fruit on hand (like berries, bananas, cut melon, or citrus fruit) to give yourself a boost of sweetness with the added benefit of fiber and vitamins.
Consume healthy carbohydrates
Aim to get most of your carbohydrates from whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy. Sweeter vegetables and grains, like oatmeal, corn, or sweet potatoes, can provide a boost of sweetness as an alternative to foods high in added sugar.
There are some healthy/less calorie-packed alternatives to sweets that people can eat guilt-free:
- Any kind of fruit you like
- Yogurt (You can always add any fruits to it)
- Dark chocolate
- Dates with nuts
- Healthy rice pudding