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Why You Should Eat What You Crave
Why You Should Eat What You Crave
You've been told way too often to resist cravings. You know: "When cookies call, munch on carrots. When ice cream screams, scoop up some cottage cheese." Yeah, right. Better advice: When you've just gotta have it, give in -- but eat the healthiest version of whatever it is you're lusting after. And try to buy a single portion so there are no leftovers to tempt you the next day when the crisis has passed.
Some yummy options:
If Only Chocolate Will Do
Go For: Hershey's Antioxidant Milk Chocolate or Dove Dark Chocolate Singles (1.3 oz. bars)
Why: You'll be feasting on flavonols -- the compounds that make dark chocolate so heart-healthy. Dove and other dark chocolates have flavonols naturally, but Hershey's recently added them to its milk chocolate bar for those who prefer moo juice in their candy. Bonus: Both come in at under 200 calories, while other popular candy bars push the 300-calorie mark.
If Only Real Ice Cream Will Do
Go For: Blue Bunny Personals Double Strawberry Light or a small cone at Dairy Queen
Why: The portions are perfect. A container of Blue Bunny Personals holds just a single cup -- technically two servings, but at 200 calories and 4 grams of fat, you can polish it off in one sitting without guilt. If you want the ice cream–stand experience, a small soft-serve Dairy Queen chocolate or vanilla cone will lick your craving for 230 to 240 calories and 7 to 8 grams of fat.
If Only Cookies Will Do
Go For: Nabisco 100% Whole Grain Fig Newtons Minis
Why: They contain whole grains, fiber, vitamin A -- you even get calcium without having to dunk them in milk. Each 130-calorie packet of eight cookies delivers 150 milligrams of the mighty mineral -- about as much as 4 ounces of skim milk. The only drawback: They're sold in six-packs, so share the extras with fellow cookie-cravers.
If Only a Doughnut Will Do
Go For: Entenmann's Softee Plain Donut Singles or Krispy Kreme's Whole Wheat Glazed
Why: At 180 calories, the whole-wheat doughnut appears to be one of the skinniest, healthiest options sold individually. Plus, Krispy Kreme recently stopped stuffing its doughnuts with scary trans fat. Entenmann's doughnuts, too, are free of trans fat, though, for mysterious reasons, the "singles" come two to a pack -- so share one with a friend and you'll eat only 170 calories each.
If Only Pie Will Do
Go For: A slice of pumpkin or blueberry
Why: Choose pumpkin and you'll get a serving of veggies (thanks to the pumpkin, which is packed with vitamin A) and quite a bit of calcium (courtesy of evaporated milk) for about 230 calories, no matter which brand you buy. Remember: Just fork over the cash for a slice, not the whole deep dish. If you can handle 270 or so calories, blueberry pie is a healthy alternative -- the berries are chock-full of cancer-fighting antioxidants.
If Only Chips Will Do
Go For: A 1.1 oz. bag of Baked Lays
Why: Even though they're totally free of saturated and trans fat -- few other brands can claim that -- they taste good. So good that you need to buy the 130-calorie single-serve bag. With the family size, it's practically impossible to stop crunching till you get to the bottom of the bag.
The payoff for indulging like a smart cookie? Avoiding saturated and trans fats -- which most of the above snacks do completely, and even the few exceptions aren't outrageous -- can make your RealAge more than 4 years younger.
Got the midnight munchies? Check out the best snacks for late-night attacks.
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: Comments (3)
Comments
i work in a bakeshop and am a really big addict of chocolate and sweets...
I work 5 -6 days and its really hard to control not to eat ..
please give me some advice how 2 control my cravings..
thanx Posted by: komal | June 05, 2008 at 04:04 AM
I find the darker the chocolate, the less I need of it. My husband got me a box of 85% cocoa squares from Godiva for Mother's Day. They are 1-inch squares about a quarter inch thick...and I really can eat just one. Posted by: Ashley | May 19, 2008 at 12:25 PM
My craving fixes:
Chocolate - Dove Dark Chocolate Minitures - Only 42 calories each. I keep a bag of them in frig and treat myself one or two per day.
Chips: Terra Chips - no trans fats and made from 6 different vegs but no white potatoes. 150 cals. Posted by: Barbara | March 03, 2008 at 11:41 AM
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