Healthy Ways to Give in to Your Sweet Tooth

We all have that sweet tooth craving that hits us at some time throughout the day, if not multiple times a day. It seems like there are plenty of ways to curb your sweet tooth but the reality is that you don’t have to if you are trying to be healthy. Here are a few recipes you can whip up to enjoy some sweets without feeling bogged down by excess sugar.

Breakfast:

This is the time of day that sweet tooths (sweet teeth?) hit millions in America. Look at the most popular breakfast foods, and you’ll see what I mean. Breakfast cereals, Poptarts, Toaster Strudel, chocolate chip pancakes, whipped cream covered waffles, Gogurts and Oreo flavored parfaits are marketed to us as the perfect breakfast foods.

Instead of eating more processed foods, there are great sweet alternatives that incorporate healthy foods to brighten and sweeten your morning.

Overnight Oats

These simple oats are a great way to eat a hearty breakfast with very little prep. In fact, you don’t even have to cook these! Make this breakfast the night before, pop it in the fridge and you can warm it up quickly in the microwave or enjoy chilled right away. Plus these are highly customizable and you can switch the flavors of these up easily.

Easy Overnight Oats Recipe:

Ingredients

1/2 cup old-fashioned or quick cook oats
1/2 cup almond, cashew or coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For serving, optional: Fruit either fresh or dried, chia seeds, nuts, almond butter, chocolate chips, hemp seeds or anything else you like!

Instructions

Mix together your oats, milk, maple syrup or honey and the vanilla in a jar or bowl that has a lid. Seal the container and shake till everything is mixed together. If it seems like it’s not all mixed just give a good stir with a spoon.
Refrigerate your oats overnight for at least 8 hours.
When you’re ready to enjoy, add your favorite toppings!

Latte or Frappuccino

Lattes are delicious but can cost at times over $5 a cup. Save yourself the money and the $5+ dollars each day and make your own! Warm a small cup of almond milk and use a hand frother to give it a foamy texture. Layer on top of your morning coffee and if you traditionally have a flavor shot then look for a version of it made it with stevia.

Try this delicious Frappuccino Recipe:

Ingredients

2 cups full strength coffee
2 cups ice
2 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 scoop Detox Organics Chocolate Superfoods
1 scoop Detox Organics Vegan Vanilla Protein

Instructions

In a blender cup combine ice, coffee, chocolate superfoods, and vanilla protein and blend for 30 seconds.
Add in 1 additional handful of ice and peanut butter and blend another 30 seconds until a the consistency is an icy thick shake.
Top with anything you like. Suggestions: Vegan whipped topping or cacao nibs.

Lunch:

Most of our lunch sweets come from drinks. Sodas and iced coffees are a common pick me up for the midday sweet cravings and often help us through a midday slump if we experience one. Here are two healthier ways to enjoy these beverages and still get the pick me ups you need.

Stevia sodas

There are stevia flavor options that you drop into the water to give it a sweetness without the calories. Be sure to go with stevia or xylitol to avoid the questionable artificial sweeteners. If you are using it to replace soda just grab a can of seltzer water and drop in some flavor shots. These create a bubbly sweet drink that is way healthier than a can of traditional soda.

And if you need your bubbly beverage to have caffeine in it, then look for brands like Zevia that are 100% sweetened with stevia and taste like colas, Dr. Pepper, and even cherry cola as well as have caffeine in them just like the original drinks!

Flavored Iced Coffee or Cold Brew

Take ahold of you afternoon coffee sugar crash. You can brew your own cold brew for just a few dollars a week and add your favorite almond or cashew milk to it. I got the cold brew maker that is linked above on Amazon and it arrived that day! Use a stevia shot of flavor to spice things up. You can get a sweet kick of caffeine without the normal sugar rush with a few easy changes.

Dinner:

Grilled Fruit over Protein

What if your sweet tooth hits at dinner? Instead of waiting for dessert try adding a fun sweet twist to your actual dinner. If you can grill or roast a side of veggies, you can add in fruit like pineapple that gets sweeter with heat and pairs wonderfully with salty and savory food.

Fruit in Salad

Another great way to add a little sweetness to your dinner is to throw some chopped apple or pears onto a salad. These fruits pair nicely with soft cheeses and can add a touch of sweet to bitter greens.

Snacks:

Milk Shake

You can whip up a really healthy milkshake with simple ingredients. The key is to use frozen banana and almond milk to replace the thick ice cream base and you can add your own yummy toppings like strawberries and shreds of dark chocolate.

Try this amazing Apple Pie Shake:

Ingredients

2 Scoops Detox Organics Vanilla Protein
1 banana (ripe)
1 cup of ice
1/2 cup applesauce unsweetened
1 tsp Ceylon cinnamon
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup of water

Instructions

Blend all of these ingredients together.
Top with a dusting of cinnamon once poured into your cup!

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is the mother of all sweet tooth satisfiers. For the maximum health benefits go with a 70% cocoa or higher to make sure you’re getting the true benefits of dark chocolate. If you can work your way to more bitter chocolate but still get the savory benefits your brain will still appreciate the chocolate and your body will benefit from it.

This list is just a starting point for ideas on how to eat healthier sweets throughout the day. As always, fruits are a go-to and great to keep around the house. But everyday it’s nice to have options and sometimes certain foods just don’t cut it. And if all else fails, reach for the chocolate!