Is your sweet tooth stopping you from losing weight? Nutritionist shares 6 hacks to manage cravings | Health
When working towards weight loss, we often think we need to completely cut out sugar and sweet treats to reduce calorie intake. While following a calorie-deficient diet is crucial, completely restricting desserts can sometimes backfire. Allowing yourself to enjoy your favourite sweet occasionally can actually help you manage cravings, stay consistent, and make your diet more sustainable in the long run. Also read | Diet coach who dropped 30 kilos shares six reasons you get sugar cravings after a meal
Dr Rachel Paul is a nutritionist who keeps sharing weight loss-related tips and tricks on her Instagram profile on a regular basis. On June 20, Rachel shared a few hacks that can help us lose the extra kilos while managing our sweet cravings. “Listen. I absolutely have a sweet tooth, so I hear you if this is you, too! But weight loss is possible for everyone. Here are my tips if you like the sweet life,” she wrote.
1. Plan ahead
Plan ahead for how many servings of dessert you want to eat daily. The nutritionist recommended 0-2 servings of dessert per day. One serving is approximately 100-200 calories.
2. Buy single servings
A lot of desserts are so easy to overeat, especially when you’re reaching into a large container. Make your life easy by buying single servings.
3. Become a food snob
Only eat the desserts that you really love. Not the desserts that are fine or just meh. When you’re more satisfied by what you’re eating, it’s much easier to stick with the serving size. Also read | Woman who lost 7 kg, made ‘belly fat disappear’ shares 8 things that happen with low sugar intake: Automatic weight loss
4. Find lower sugar alternatives
Added sugar is everywhere. Find products that are either smaller servings or single servings, or that have less added sugar. Often, the more sugar we eat, the more we crave it.
5. Order your drink with 1 less pump of sugar
Your drink will not taste good, but you will consume fewer calories. It will also help you to slowly reduce sugar intake, which is healthier in the long term.
6. Focus on naturally occurring food sweetness
Trust the process. The less added sugar you eat, the sweeter the added sugar will taste. Start focusing on whole, real food sweetness like fruit, sweet potatoes, a splash of cream in your coffee, and flavouring foods with cinnamon and vanilla extract.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
