As a sweet, I've been having either zero Greek yogurt with berries, about a 1/4 cup of Kashi Golean Crunch and/or 7 grain puffs and a squirt of honey and dash of cinnamon. Not only do I enjoy this, but I find myself craving it at times and it is usually breakfast or a snack, daily.
My "go to" sweet has been the no-bake cheesecake variation: reduced fat cream cheese, fat free cool whip (1 serving = 1 ounce of each of those), lemon juice (negligible), topped with a dusting of graham crackers and bran buds, with fresh sliced strawberries. I absolute LOVE this.
The dilemma? I've grown bored of the cheesecake (which I'd have maybe 1x a week or 1x every other week), and the yogurt parfait is more of a staple meal and less of a treat.
I'm finding that I want a sweet of some kind, but even a splurge treat is unappealing--for instance, I couldn't even bring myself to eat cake, cookies, pie or ice cream----because the idea is just revolting.
Any suggestions? The nearest thing I can even think of is a piece of toast (for crunch) and peanut butter and all fruit spread for the sweet, or a slice of raisin toast with a smear of all fruit.
I don't want to make an entire recipe of anything and have leftovers, but I don't seem to have any imagination. I want something crunchy and somewhat sweet.
I'm not sure if it hits the crunch factor, but I love dark chocolate - I actually go for Lindt 99% or unsweetened, but I think you have to sort of build to that (and some people don't want to!). Good luck, I'm sure you'll get some great ideas!!
Why are yiou finding the idea of a real sweet to be revolting? I"m wondering if this might not be a mental/emotional issue that the real sweet might cause you to binge?
If you want a sweet, then adjust your calories accordingly and try to incorporate something that is a TRUE treat, and not a "healthy" treat. It might really make you feel better and more likely to stick to the rest of your plan.
A mental/emotional issue? No, some people just find sweets too sweet. Or they've stopped eating sweets and now can't bear how strong the sugar flavor is. Not everyone has the same tolerance for sugar and sweet flavor.
I had the worst sweet tooth and started cutting out aspartame and most desserts. I now find that what the average person would describe as an appropriately sweetened dessert I find terrible, sickeningly sweet.
Why should the OP try to retrain herself to not eat "healthy sweets" and eat "TRUE treats" instead? If she enjoys Greek yogurt with strawberries why should she retrain herself to crave ice cream, cake, cookies, and other things you consider a "TRUE treat"? I'd say where she is now is ideal- seriously cutting out sugar and being happy with it. Why take out calories for nutrient-dense veggies, whole grains, and protein just to reserve for sugar?
Treats are relative. I don't see the OP struggling or going off on binges because she's being too restrictive. She just wants more ideas for things that are lightly sweetened.
123 This isn't crunchy, but I'm finding dates and figs to be AMAZING desserts. Some dates are mediocre, but really good ones are just amazing- plump and sweet and just a few will do the trick for me . For crunchy, have you thought about making an apple crisp? It's basically just thinly sliced apples in a casserole dish with a mix of oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter crumbled on top. This is what I use: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/apple_crisp/
Oy. Mental/emotional food issues vis a vis sweets---ummm, no. LOL
I forgot how carefully everyone reads these posts and adapts them to sometimes fit an issue.
I merely have no desire for cookies, pies, ice cream, and the thought of eating them is revolting. Its like if I was planning a dinner of some kind of beef, and wanted beef, and was offered beef liver---I'd have to decline.
So, I want a treat of some sort, but just what would "hit the spot" is the issue. Cookies, pies, ice cream would no only NOT hit the spot, but don't sound appealing at all.
It has nothing to do with it starting a binge, I'm not having trouble sticking to my plan or fitting in a snack....if I felt like ice cream, cookies, pie, etc., I'd work them into the calorie equation. Honestly tho, I have no taste for them, no craving for them, no desire for them. Its as tho I don't even like those things anymore.
I think maybe Love Chocolate may be onto something -- perhaps a chocolate covered pretzel would be satisfying. Sweet and crunchy--thanks for the nod to chocolate.
indieblue, thanks for the link - the apple crisp sounds good too.
I think I'll spend some time there and at skinnytaste to see if there is anything else that might hit the spot.
This might not appeal to you at all, but my go-to treat in the evenings has become cinnamon candy. I buy sugar-free hard cinnamon candy (sweetened with Splenda) from CVS, and a serving is 4 candies for 36 calories. Sweet, spicy, and I can chew them or just suck on them. LOL, that probably sounds gross to most people. I actually began eating them when I was trying to quit smoking - they were GREAT when I just needed to put something in my mouth to occupy it. Now though I'm addicted to them!
Other treats/desserts that I'll have sometimes include trail mix (I like a particular one from Trader Joe's that has cashews, almonds, pistachios, dried cherries and chocolate chips) or these mini ice cream cones from Trader Joe's called "Hold the Cone". Just enough ice cream and sweetness without being overwhelming, crunchy from the cone and the outer chocolate shell, and only 70 calories each.
The past month, I've been just grabbing fruit. It sounds boring - at first it was - but I've been slowly training my body to desire the fruit!
The trick surprisingly works (altho it is also easy to un-train oneself). After returning on X-mas, I found myself in the kitchen grabbing for fruit of all kinds.
In addition, there is a super simple nut bar that my boyfriend and I always eat.... it is also good to eat as a b-fast on the go or dessert. I haven't seen them in America, they are super easy to make:
raw pumpkin seeds (without the shell)
honey
The honey holds the pumpkin seeds together. Form into a little bar. Put in the over on a super low heat in the oven or a in dehyrdater for awhile, until they become a bit more firm. And voila.
I would probably make each bar about 30 grams = ca. 125 cal.
I tried to find an english recipe to link, but I had no luck. I would experiment a bit with oven temp. Anyway, super good and pumpkin seeds have a lot of interesting nutritional properties!
I can understand losing the taste for sweets, I envy you in that! I need to get there! LOL
I want to echo the dried fruit, or dried apricots dipped in dark chocolate. I love them! Candied citrus peel is easy to make and tasty. Love the dates and figs idea, I am going to have to try that. So is candied nuts, although a bit high in calories, they are so good! Kettle corn (popcorn) sometimes does the trick for me as well.
I have a wide range of "treats" that fit into my CC plans.
I love fresh berries and whipped cream. I use the Redi Whip in the can. I use full fat, full sugar because for my small serving, it just tastes better.
I also love a cinnamon graham cracker and pb.
Another treat is a mix I make of dry oats, pb, dry coconut and nuts and raisins. I make a big batch of this and scoop it into balls and then eat 1-3 balls for a snack. They are also great for pre-workout snacks.
Sometimes I feel like salty treats...and I love a 100 calorie wholly guacamole pack on a white cheddar rice cake....or a few baked chips and salsa.
Another savory treat for me is a pickle spear wrapped in a slice of cheese or lunch meat. It always hits the spot.
Treats don't have to be sweet. If there is something you enjoy, use it to treat yourself.
[QUOTE=Razorbackbritt
Another treat is a mix I make of dry oats, pb, dry coconut and nuts and raisins. I make a big batch of this and scoop it into balls and then eat 1-3 balls for a snack.[/QUOTE]
This sounds interesting -- are they storable for a day or two?
I was also thinking about a juice bar--like Edy's--but I think it is the crunch that I'm looking for. Maybe I will find a recipe and whip up some mini muffins of some sort and freeze them so I have them on hand.
Thanks people - keep the ideas coming.
....forgot to mention I'm type 2 diabetic -- so that icky-after-indulging feeling is another reason some of those traditional "treats" are unappealing. I know my limits.
Last edited by 124chicksinger; 12-27-2011 at 03:49 PM.
I buy bags of frozen blueberries (I try to buy the "wild" blueberries). I love to eat them in a bowl - you will be surprised how sweet they are. I've also tossed a little oatmeal/cinnamon and a tsp of sugar together, put it on top and popped in the microwave for a blueberry crisp type thing.
When I eat them plain in a bowl, I microwave for 20-30 seconds, just to make them edible - so they're not like marbles.
I eat pretty large bowls of them - Tons of antioxidants too.
I eat fruit every day. Generally during the work week, fresh fruits, plain, are my snack. I think these past 2 weeks I've just had a little too much time on my hands being on vacation (although Xmas ate up a chunk of time).
Maybe a grannie smith apple with a little caramel drizzle and some nuts? Ok, that's my kind of "treat" fruit. Gonna have to put that on the shopping list! Or, chocolate dipped strawberries (but where's the crunch)?
Height: 5 ft 8.5" athlete who can give a punch & certainly take one too! :)
What about some ladybugs on a log!
=Celery stalk with peanut butter on it & then craisins layed on top of the peanut butter!
or ants on a log!
=Celery stalk with peanut butter on it & then raisins layed on top of the peanut butter!
I think these are crunchy/chewy delights that are filling & just sweet enough.
Or a few pieces of dark chocolate dunked in peanut butter with an almond on top
Other sweet/crunchy/chewies
Figs & almonds
orange or cherry flavored prunes with almonds shoved inside
dates with a dab of almond butter or peanut butter on top
banana with peanut butter then push in some almonds
baked apple in microwave, tossed with cinnamon & raisins, dry oats & chopped almonds & dab of agave/honey if you fancy it.
strawberries dunked in greek yogurt & then I freeze them, once frozen I cut the berries in half, they look like a heart and are so yummy!
I'm not sure if it hits the crunch factor, but I love dark chocolate - I actually go for Lindt 99% or unsweetened, but I think you have to sort of build to that (and some people don't want to!). Good luck, I'm sure you'll get some great ideas!!
I like the dark chocolate too. I used to get the Green/Black 85% dark chocolate, zap it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to get it melted and then put in some sliced strawberries and mix it in. you could also use raspberries or bananas, or a combination of those! it's all healthy stuff and feels more like a dessert than just the chocolate by itself. you could probably top it off with some cool whip too.
I purchase the protein jello from dietdirect.com and make individual portion sizes. Add two tablespoons of whip cream light. Great snack in the afternoons.
sweets
. For crunchy, have you thought about making an apple crisp? It's basically just thinly sliced apples in a casserole dish with a mix of oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter crumbled on top. This is what I use: 
