7 Ways to Cut Back on Sugar Without Giving Up Your Sweet Tooth

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If you have a sweet tooth, then you know there’s nothing like the high of eating your favorite desserts, from mouthwatering, indulgent cherry vanilla cupcakes to light and sweet sugar cookies. However, there’s no denying that a sugar overload isn’t the best thing for your body. 

Today, Americans consume about 17 teaspoons of sugar every day, which is more than twice the recommended amount. Sugar spikes your energy levels, then makes your body crash and feel lethargic. Excess sugar also contributes to weight gain. If you want to beat your sugar cravings but not cut out sweetness from your life completely, here are six healthy ways to cut back.

Switch Out Refined Sugar with Natural Sweeteners

If you want to cut down on sugar, try swapping that refined sugar with natural sweeteners in beverages. These include alternatives like coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, and Stevia. Not only do they have less refined sugar, but they also add a richer and more robust flavor to your drinks.

Opt for Unsweetened Snacks

Plenty of store-bought snacks, from yogurt to granola bars to oatmeal, might sound healthy at first but are actually packed with added sugar. Instead of hoarding your favorite sweet snacks, look for the “unsweetened” versions. These products will likely have labels with “less sugar” or “sugar-free” on them.

Before you snack on these at home, whip out those natural sweeteners again to add a touch of sweetness to them. Drizzle some honey on top of your granola, or add a pinch of coconut sugar to your granola mix.

Snack on Fruit Instead of Candy

When you crave something sweet, reaching for your favorite candy is the easiest thing to do, but candy rarely has any nutrients. Instead, make a habit of reaching out for fruit to snack on, whether it’s watermelon, strawberries, mangoes, or kiwis. 

You could also fix up a bowl of grapes and berries and pop one into your mouth whenever the craving hits, or get creative and put frozen bananas into a blender to make “nice” cream. These fruits quickly satisfy your sweet craving without overwhelming your body with added sugars. They’re also packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber to nourish your body properly.

Add Less Sugar to Your Favorite Recipes

If you’re into baking, experiment with recipes that have less sugar. You could also tweak your favorite cookie or cake recipes by reducing the sugar you add. Try gradually reducing the sugar you use in your recipes to make adjusting to the non-sugary flavor easier on your taste buds. 

Fall in Love with Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is so many people’s guilty pleasure, but you don’t have to give up chocolate to cut down on sugar. There are many types of chocolate out there, but the sweetest, most sugary kind is milk chocolate. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, has less sugar and higher cacao content, giving it that rich, intense flavor many chocolate lovers enjoy. Switch out milk chocolate bars for their healthier alternative, and you’ll be well on your way to a lower sugar intake.

Make Your Own Condiments at Home

You might not realize it, but many commercial condiments like ketchup and BBQ sauce are filled to the brim with added sugars. As an alternative, try whipping up some homemade sauces straight from your kitchen to cut down on sugar and preservatives.

For ketchup, you can use pureed tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, and a bit of honey. For BBQ sauce, try blending together tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and honey. 

Limit Dessert to Once a Week

Dessert might be any sweet tooth’s favorite part of a meal, but that slice of cake or brownie to cap off the night makes sugar levels skyrocket like crazy. Banning dessert will just make your sweet cravings more unbearable, but it might be a good idea to limit it to just once a week. 

Instead of having dessert every night, make it a special treat. Maybe you want Friday desserts to celebrate the end of a tiring week, or baking weekends with the family. Instead of taking your sweets for granted, you’ll cherish every bite.

Endnote

Cutting back on sugar doesn’t mean depriving yourself; rather, it means being creative and making better choices with how you consume sweet treats. With these small changes in your diet and snacking habits, you can cut back on unhealthy added sugars while still satisfying your sweet cravings. Not only will you get that sweetness you’re looking for, but you’ll be taking care of your body, too.