You don’t have to quit sugar “cold turkey” but use these 12 foods that will help you curb sugar cravings.
Knowledge is power. Instead of quitting sugar “cold turkey,” use the following 12 foods as your starting base to fight off cravings. Remember that moderation is the key to success. When you drop processed sugar from your diet and look more towards natural sugars from fruit, you still need to have the correct information. For example, you may use bananas as a prime source for a snack. However, too many bananas per day can drive your potassium levels up. Let’s look at 12 foods that will help reduce sugar cravings.
- Instead of getting a smoothie at one of those kiosks, make a green smoothie at home. Look to use kale/green apples/organic honey and water as your 1st attempt. Kale has many benefits and is high in vitamin C, which will help curb sugar cravings.
- Are you looking to eat something after dinner? Try fermented vegetables as a substitute for candy. Korean kimchi may be too spicy for you, but you can investigate making a carrot/jicama mixture, which is crunchy and delicious. Jicama is also a favorite of those on the Keto diet. It’s eaten in so many different ways, including Jicama fries.
- Sweet potatoes can be made into fries. Sweet potatoes are very healthy and can be enjoyed by baking them whole and consuming or adding a bit of cinnamon. Eat moderately, however, as they do have a lot of natural sugar.
- Consider eating healthy nuts and seeds, such as walnuts and chia seeds to help you curb sugar cravings. You can munch on them for snacks or add them to any salad that you wish to have for lunch. Just remember not to add store-bought salad dressings. Go for balsamic vinegar or olive oil.
- You may not have thought about eggs as a sugar replacement, but they are a good bet. Eating one or two boiled eggs for breakfast or after-dinner snacks will help keep your stomach full and stave off food cravings. Add a touch of black pepper or paprika for taste.
- Many people are addicted to sugar and the crunchy feeling from eating chips or chocolate bars with added nuts or candy bits. Replace those sugar foods with grapes. Grapes have enough natural sugar to override your desire for the processed stuff, and they can substitute well as crunchy food.
- If you are having trouble cutting out the sweet treats, switch over to dark chocolate. This chocolate has a high cocoa content and is healthy due to many antioxidants, which can help the heart. Scientific studies show it can also be good for the brain, unlike processed sugar found in cookies and other types of sweets.
- Plain Greek yogurt can fill your sugar cravings. You can add small bits of fruit if desired. Stay away from yogurts that have added fruit as it is not fresh and usually contains added sugar. You can also sprinkle some chia seeds or nuts on your yogurt as well to give it some boosted health benefits.
- Dark berries like blueberries and blackberries have that sweet flavor you crave and are very healthy with their antioxidant properties. Just eat them in moderation. A handful is best rather than consuming a bowl of berries in milk.
- Avocados are trendy for people who want to be healthy and curb sugar cravings. Serve them separately, put in a smoothie, or even use them to make avocado ice cream. They indeed are a great sugar substitute and one of the best food items you can use while detoxing from sugar. As you may be aware, people add avocado to their main meals, such as a salad or even a slice on top of a homemade hamburger.