Guiltless Pleasures

Your diet says no, but your taste buds scream “Give it to me!” Your belly wants sweet treats and lots of them. That’s a story we all know too well. But giving in to all your cravings will keep you from reaching your fitness goals. And yet it’s virtually impossible to wish away a sweet tooth without giving it some satisfaction. What’s a girl to do? Give in. Indulge in some guilty pleasures, but do it the right way.

Before you start gobbling goodies, there are a few things you need to know to keep your physique lean and healthy:

Size matters: 

Don’t go overboard when you’re satisfying your craving – limit yourself to one serving. Putting one treat on your plate and stashing the rest away will help you avoid excess nibbling.

Calorie-wise:

Don’t put yourself in diet danger by racking up your calories. The best thing to do is subtract your dessert’s calories from those allotted for your main meal (that means having a smaller dinner).

A matter of time: 

Eating carbohydrates right before bed isn’t a good idea, especially if they’re sugary ones. To avoid late night munching, have your sweets earlier in the day. If you’re still craving something before bed, have a cup of tea, warm skim milk, or diet cocoa. 

Feasting frequency: 

While your personal goals and diet will dictate how often you snack on sweets, it’s important not to go overboard. Eat something sweet a couple of times a week to avoid the overwhelming cravings that will land you at the bottom of an ice cream tub. Besides, it’s good to reward yourself with a treat after a week of eating well.

Ingredients:

• 2 large bananas, cut into large chunks
• 6 kiwis, peeled and quartered length-wise
• 4 large pears, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 2 apples, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 1 can pineapple, cut into chunks

• 1/2 cup sugar-free maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 tablespoon allspice
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter

Instructions:

1. Arrange the fruit onto skewers and grill them for about 2 minutes on each side, or until they’re toasted.
2. Mix the glaze ingredients together, and then heat on the stove. Drizzle it over the grilled kebobs.

Nutrients per serving (Makes 6 servings):