For people who are attempting to lose weight, or trying to improve their eating habits, just the mention of sweets in their diets brings a frown to their faces. Many people avoid certain foods because they feel these foods are “off limits.”

Unfortunately, there exists a myth in the world of nutrition and weight loss that some foods are taboo. The myth says that in order to lose or maintain weight, or eat a healthful diet, sweets must be avoided due to the high fat and sugar content they are typically associated with. In reality, how long can anyone possibly avoid a craving for a certain food? There is a strong correlation between mood stability and food cravings. A food craving is natural and may be biological, psychological, or both. Ignoring a food craving may make the craving more intense, make the mood worse, or may lead to binge eating later in the day. Satisfying a craving will prevent overeating and enhance a mood.

How do sweets fit into a healthful diet? The traditional definition of a diet brings up words such as “starvation” or “food deprivation.” Actually, a diet simply consists of the food we eat. All of us have a diet because all of us eat food. A well balanced diet may include sweets such as chocolate cake or chocolate chip cookies. If the amount of these foods is limited and used occasionally, our diets can still meet the recommendation of no more than 30% of our daily calories from fat.

Eating sensibly is a learning process. Your current eating habits have been acquired over the years, and new eating habits can still be learned and become a part of your lifestyle. If, for example, you aren’t happy with your current diet because it is too high in fat, you have the ability to make changes in your eating habits. While making changes to your diet, you must learn how to fit sweets into your diet.

The message here is not to figure out a way to justify having three pieces of cake at lunch. You need just enough cake to satisfy a craving. Learn how to put together a balanced diet which includes your favorite sweets, satisfies your hunger, and leaves you with no guilt. Eating should be a fun and pleasurable experience. Remember, there are no good foods or bad foods, just better food choices.

Copyright© 1999-2004 Kevin Kelly, LRD. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

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