Secrets of Success

Cookies: You don't have to make the whole batch!

If you are craving cookies but don't want to eat the whole batch, this secret is for you! Next time you make a batch of cookies, bake only 1 or 2 for each person in your household. Use a melon baller to scoop the rest of the dough onto a cookie sheet and then freeze it on the sheet. When frozen, store in a freezer bag (separate w/ wax paper) & write the time to bake and oven temp on the front. You can bake 1 or 2 at a time by adding 2 minutes to the total baking time!

Save some Calories for an evening Sweet

I have got to have something sweet in the evening after dinner... it's a must. So I plan ahead and set aside 100-300 calories during the day for later. A glass of wine, a bit of chocolate...
If I run out of calories for the day, I'll make myself sweet tea and sweeten it with Stevia to get my fix.

Tame That Dessert Sweet Tooth With Gum!

STOP!! Enjoy a piece of gum instead! Have those middle of the day or after meal cravings your waistline just can't afford? Try the Dessert Delights line of gums made by Extra. Most flavors really do taste pretty darn close to the real thing! My favorite is the newest flavor, Apple Pie. The other flavors are also remarkably satisfying: Strawberry Shortcake, Key Lime Pie, Mint Chocolate Chip and Orange Creme Pop. These days I keep a stash at home, at work and in my purse!

Quick Delicious Healthy Dessert

One or two teaspoons of fat free/sugar free Pistachio or Butterscotch Instant Pudding mix into a cup of fat free plain yogurt. Stir until blended....YUM!

Go EASY on the pudding/jello mix until you find the right amount that pleases you.

Homemade Fruit Sorbet

Puree a blend of your favorite fruit and berries in the food processor, then stick the result in the freezer for 2-3 hours for a healthy and refreshing snack or dessert with no fat, no salt, and minimal calories. Plus, get in at least 1 more serving of fruit! Some of my favorites are blueberry/lemon and pineapple/raspberry. PS It's a great healthy snack for the kids too!!

I Scream, You scream, We all scream for... Cool Whip?

With summer weather hitting hard I have a taste for ice cream. My fix? Frozen Cool Whip Free. 1/2 cup has only 60 calories and no fat. It's rich and creamy and totally kicks the craving! Just keep frozen like ice cream and serve with fresh fruit =)

Strawberry Banana Icy Treat

Cut up bananas, throw into a food processor and run it for a minute. Add strawberries, throw them into the food processor with the mashed up bananas, and run it again for another minute or two. Toss it into the freezer and an hour or so later - replacement "ice cream!" MUCH healthier for you and in my opinion, just as delicious! It makes 4 1/2 cup servings and only has 67 calories per serving!!

Paleo Recipe for Mango Coconut Milk Pudding

Ingredients:
1 can whole coconut milk
2 mangos, diced & pureed. Set aside a little of the fruit.
1 egg yolk
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

Peel & dice the mangos. Set about 1 cup aside for later. Puree rest in a blender.
Bring the coconut milk to a low simmer in a saucepan, just bubbling around the edges. Stir with whisk while bringing up to temp.
Beat the egg yolk in a small bowl. Take some hot coconut milk & slowly & carefully drip it into the egg yolk while whisking it.

Delicious Dishes

Encourage serving sizes, particularly with treats, by using cute, elegant, or personalized serving sized dessert dishes.

I found fun, polka dotted, ice cream dishes cheap last fall, and I noticed that everyone in my family was eating closer to correct servings. (Sons pile it high - had to nip that in the bud.)

My older daughter moved in, bringing very pretty "crystal" dessert cups with stems. I feel like I am having something very special... but even better, only a serving.

Budget your nighttime snack.

There is no need to fight nighttime food cravings if you plan for them. Every morning, take a second to budget out a post-dinner snack. By doing this, you are less likely to go over your calorie range or to succumb to eating something unhealthy. Make it a special treat that you can look forward to all day.

Eat fruit instead of drinking juice

Most of us don't get enough fiber. Eat your fruit instead of drinking juice and you will benefit from the whole nutrition package. Choose fruit instead of a sugary dessert. And watch out for hidden fructose in juices!

Skinny Cow Dulce de Leche low fat ice cream

150 calories, 4 g fiber in a single serve 5.8 fl oz container. Such a delicious an satisfying treat A great secret weapon when I am trying to avoid other really bad dessert options.

Cheating Meal and Dessert

I started chewing EXTRA DESSERT DELIGHTS SUGAR FREE GUM! Comes in 3 flavors: Key Lime Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Mint Chocolate Chip. WOW these are so good. I realized that I eat junk sweets because of the taste. This is just great tasting & SLIMMING. I have also added broth to my diet. So now I drink water plus broths like those that Knox makes. A cup of broth before dinner helps me to eat less food.

Attack of the ICE CREAM CRAVING!!

When I'm craving something sweet and cold, I go for about 1/2c of organic frozen dark cherries, put them in a bowl with about a 1/4c of almond milk (or skim or soy or yogurt even) and eat them up!
The milk semi freezes the cherries and it's almost like Cherry Garcia ice cream.... only really good for you!

Put off treats until you have eaten your necessary nutrients for the day

Plan you menus. How many calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fats do you need for each day?
Then promise yourself you will not eat a treat/cheat off of your plan until and unless you have eaten all the nutrients for that day.
Just as you need fuel to drive your car, feed yourself healthy foods before you choose any extra calories.
Remember, in some cases WATER can quench both thirst AND hunger.
Congratulate yourself for each day you eat on plan!

Healthier alternative to pumpkin pie.

Make your usual pumpkin filling using non-fat condensed milk & egg whites (2 = 1 whole egg) or Eggbeaters. Use Splenda or Stivia instead of sugar ---and you can cut down on the amount by 1/4 to 1/2. Instead of making a pie shell, use glass or ceramic custard cups sprayed with Pam. Place the cups in a long cake pan. Fill each with 1/2 c. of pumpkin mixture for portion control. Fill the cake pan around the cups with boiling water (not too full.) Bake as recommended in your usual... (continued)

Mmm...tea

I've recently become addicted to Dr. Teas craving teas, which come in flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and Blueberry Pie. They are a great replacement for high-calorie, high-sugar desserts!

Tea Instead of Snacks

Try drinking herbal tea instead of having dessert after dinner or snacking at night. It became a new routine for me and definitely helped me lose 120 pounds.

A serving of fruit - and chocolate, too!

When I'm craving chocolate, I melt (over low heat or in my microwave) a mini-bar or two of dark chocolate. Dip fruit (pineapple chunks, banana slices, orange slices, grapes, etc.) just enough to flavor the fruit and ENJOY!!!

Tea rather than sweets

I have a bit of a sweet tooth. Especially after a meal, I feel I need something sweet. Lately I've been substituting unsweetened, no milk, tea for sweets, this stops my cravings for sweets and tea only has 4 calories per 12 oz.
My favorite tea - Read My Lips - David's Tea

Eliminate the Temptation

With Halloween coming up, I wanted to avoid the temptation of a bowl full of delicious chocolate staring me in the face all night so I decided to buy candy I don't like. For instance, I hate coconut, nothing, not even smothering it in chocolate would get me to eat it, so naturally Mounds or Almond Joy would be a perfect choice for Halloween treats this year.

Ice Cream Portion Control

Put your ice cream in a cone! I always tend to serve up more than just one serving (1/2 cup? yeah right!) but you can only fit so much in a cone, and it makes it more fun and tastier too! Plus, it helps me resist the temptation to top it with chocolate, cherries, etc... that could get a lil too messy!

Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt

This brand is, without a doubt, the BEST Greek yogurt on the market, if not the best yogurt out there, period. It is rich & creamy and good enough to be eaten plain. However, for a well-rounded breakfast, I mix in a generous handful of berries and some original FiberOne or plain Kashi GoLEAN cereal to add in some antioxidants and fiber. It makes a great, breakfast, snack, or even dessert!

Beat the "Boyfriend Phenomenon"

Just a quick tip to allow small indulgences without having to avoid the man in your life who likes to always take you out to dinner, or bring home your favorite fruit smoothie from the local ice creamery .

My BF has a habit of picking up fruit smoothies for us when he comes home from playing ball at the YMCA. Instead of refusing his kindness I break the calories down with my $0.69 Popsicle mold from the Dollar tree.

That medium McDonalds Strawberry Banana smoothie become 10 frozen treats!

Frozen Raspberries

Buy a bag of frozen fruit -- raspberries work particularly well for me. When you feel like having something cold and sweet after dinner, munching on some frozen fruit curbs cravings in a healthy, low calorie way!