It’s probably happened to you. You’re going about your day, minding your own business, when it hits you out of the blue — a desperate craving for a sweet treat.
Chances are if you are like most people, you try to eat around the craving, finding a “healthy” option that is practically the same thing, right? Turns out, that conventional wisdom might be wrong.
Dietitians and other healthy-eating experts are signing a new tune when it comes to cravings: indulge them. Turns out, one or two high-quality truffles or a small cupcake won’t throw your diet out the window. In fact, research shows its actually better to eat a small serving of what you are actually craving, instead of filling up on everything else in site. This often leads to overeating, and does far more damage to your diet than a small taste of what you really crave.
Here are a few tips from registered dietician Margaret Pauly on satisfying cravings:
Don’t eat around the craving – A few bites of rich, high-quality chocolate will probably satisfy your sweet tooth, but if you try to eat other things instead, you’ll probably end up overloading on calories. The substitute food just doesn’t “hit the spot” the way a reasonable portion of what you are craving does.
Love it or leave it – Don’t mindlessly eat a large chocolate bar that isn’t that good or isn’t your favorite. Make the indulgence something you really love and crave, and just have a little bit. It will help you feel satisfied longer.
It’s OK to indulge in special foods – It’s probably not a good idea to make our super-premium ice cream your daily afternoon snack. But a chocolate or two on a tough day or a sharing a dessert on date night is perfectly fine.
So go ahead and indulge a little. It could actually help you stick to your diet in the long run. We pride ourselves on serving only the best, highest-quality desserts, roasted-cocoa drinks and more, and you’re sure to find something that hits that sweet spot.