Dealing With a Sweet Tooth: Do You Have One Too?
Sweet tooth? I’ve often said “I don’t have a sweet tooth, I have a mouthful!” Anybody else?
Maybe for some it’s breads, for others chips and salty foods. I don’t know. I guess it can be anything, but I believe most of us have that “thing,” that food or food group that tends to call to us, entice us, and sometimes make us feel like we’re going to lose our minds! For me, it’s the sweets and treats! I have a sweet tooth!
How I deal with my sweet tooth. Do you have one too? #tips Click To Tweet
Some things I’ve learned to help me navigate the sweets and treats:
Put candy or cookies in a dish that you cannot see through.
There have been actual studies done about this. But I don’t need the studies; it’s proven true in my own home. I can put cookies on a plate on the counter with plastic wrap over them, and they’ll get eaten within a few days. I can put same cookies on same counter in a dark container or cookie jar, and they won’t get eaten. Why? They don’t see them.
Portion it out.
I love the holidays. I enjoy holiday decorations. And what candy can you get for every holiday? M&Ms, of course! They have colors for every holiday and every season! I think it’s nice to have said M&Ms in a dish as a holiday “decoration”; however, it is quite easy to grab a few here and there until I realize that I have eaten half a bag (or more) in a day! So instead of going by the bowl and grabbing a few every time, I could get a small handful and eat those until they’re gone and be done for the day. I can do this with anything. I can break a cookie into pieces and practice moderation by eating small bites over the course of a couple of hours.
Out of sight, out of mind.
I mentioned the containers earlier. You can also keep your candy or treats in the freezer. If I bake just to keep it at home, I will often freeze part of whatever I make and then we get out what we want when we want it. (And often we forget we have cookies or cake or candy in the freezer!) You can also put the candy dish in a non common area. I have a candy table in our formal dining room. We don’t use that, because we have a small area off the kitchen where we have meals. And in fact, we don’t go through that part of the house daily, so we have to actually go that way if we want to grab a treat.
If possible, don’t even bring it in the house.
If there’s that thing you just can’t say no to, don’t tempt yourself with it. But if it ends up in your house somehow, and you can’t freeze it or send it home with someone, then toss it once you’ve have your fill. It’s not worth it.
Remind yourself of God’s Word.
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psalm 119:103. Now, I’m not saying that sugar is a sin or anything like that. What I am saying is that anything that begins to have control over us or anything over which we feel we lose or have no control is a problem. And when I have a problem, no matter the nature of it, I go to God and His word for help. In this case, with sweets and treats, this verse serves as a good reminder that I need not let my sweet tooth have too much control in my life.
Sweets aren't the enemy, but you do need to manage your sweet tooth. #tips Click To Tweet
Sugar is not bad. Sugar is not the enemy. But it can be troublesome. We know that our bodies don’t work efficiently on sugary foods. It does not sustain our energy. It doesn’t build muscle. In moderation, sweets and treats are okay. But we can’t let those things be our main source of nutrition.
Be sure to sign up for my weekly email where you’ll get more tips like these and support to live a fit and free life!
Let's Get Started!
Add your name and email to receive faith-focused fitness inspiration and motivation to your inbox weekly!
I don’t have a sweet tooth, but I do have 2 weaknesses: chocolate and wine. I keep a bag of Hershey’s nuggets in the freezer. Since they’re frozen, they’re harder to eat. One or 2 usually satisfies my need for chocolate. Now wine, that’s a different story… :p
Yes! Chocolate in the freezer! I do the same thing. I used to drink wine, but I can’t tell you last time I had a glass?!? Maybe I should remedy that soon! lol!