Healthier Sweets & Treats

Halloween and the holidays are coming…here is how to satisfy your sweet tooth without sabotaging your health or waistline.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but sugar is bad. Like supercalafragalisticexpialadotious bad. Sure it tastes good, but refined sugar causes weight gain, decreases your immunity, and increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

What Happens When You Cut Out Sugar?

As part of my Nutrition Course, I lead participants through a sugar detox…as in cutting out all refined sugar, completely. But, they are still allowed, and even encouraged, to eat some of the healthier sweets as outlined below. By switching to natural unrefined sweets, they’re able to fulfill the craving for sweetness in a much gentler way without ever feeling deprived.

The results? In just one week, when participants kept all else the same, and simply cut out refined sugar, most lost an average of 2 pounds, and about an inch from their waist and/or hips. That’s just 7 days…imagine what a whole month could do.

Since sugar season is upon us, here are some of my favorite refined sugar alternatives and refined sugar free recipes:

Healthiest Store Bought Sweets

(From left to right)

Coconut Macaroons – I prefer Hail Merry brand, as they are sweetened with maple syrup, and made with a few simple ingredients, including almond and coconut flour.

Date Rolls – Simply date paste (dates are a fruit) rolled in coconut or nuts. Available in the bulk and sometimes produce sections.

Dark Chocolate – Look for those sweetened with coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey. (See my favorite dark chocolate brands here).

Coconut Chips – Dried coconut pieces, usually available in the raw food or healthy snack section of your grocer or online.

Refined Sugar Free Recipes

Creamy Carob Pudding

Banana Ice Cream

(Photo Credits: Maria Marlowe except for chocolate ice cream, Irina Smirnova)