Candy, Treats & Weight Loss

One of the most popular questions at Diet Bites is, "I'm on a diet. Can I have candy or sweet treats?"

You bet your sweet bippy!

Incorporating goodies that you enjoy will actually increase your odds of losing weight and you'll also feel that you're 'in the same world' so to speak, and that you haven't slipped off the planet into the vortex of Dessert Deprivation. And what might dessert spell in its backward's state? That's right - stressed, and if there is one thing that you don't need while trying to lose those unwanted pounds is stress.

Adding your favorite treats to your diet will also assist you in developing a pattern for healthier eating because you'll know how much of the goody to incorporate without exceeding your caloric daily total and also the best time to add that treat to your diet during the day. Practice makes perfect.

Let's lay out some tips for sweet things:

- Think small while dieting; after all you're aiming to reach a smaller size and you're trimming your meal plates down to a smaller size. Thinking 'small' is smart and it will assist you in reaching your weight loss goals quickly.

When it comes to treats and desserts - again, think small. While a jumbo candy bar which contains 700 calories won't fit well into your weight loss plan, the candy bar miniatures certainly can for about 35 to 40 calories each.

- Sugar free and reduced fat varieties of your favorite treats can assist in slashing calories.

- When you're thinking about adding a sweet treat to your snack time, you have to consider all of your choices. Do you want something salty? Sour or tart? Something extra sweet? And what about the texture? Smooth or a treat that will work your jaw? Do you want a quick treat or one that will last for quite some time.

If you're wanting something sweet and a selection of fruit won't suffice - and if you're wanting the treat to last for a considerable time, then perhaps a sucker might hit the spot. Large suckers contain 50 to over 100 calories.

If you're wanting a treat that is not sweet, yet salty - then perhaps sunflower or pumpkin seeds will satisfy your snacking needs; they take a very long time to eat if they are roasted and left in the hull. But - if that salty fix involves something sweet, you might be satisfied with a caramel log coated in salty peanuts for about 200 calories per bar. Another idea to save 'fat calories' is to break the treat into two pieces; enjoy one-half now and the other later, even on the morrow.

- Sugary drinks can add a ton of empty calories to a weight loss plan and in turn add fat pounds onto the body. But at times, a sugary soda just makes a body feel refreshed and is a very enjoyable experience. When the sugary soda mood strikes, be sure to consider enjoying your beverage by itself because when it is part of meal time, the flavor often gets gulped down with the food and is not fully appreciated.

- An easy sweet snack to prepare is hot-air popped corn with a bit of zero calorie butter spray applied. Sprinkle on some ground cinnamon and Splenda which measures cup-per-cup with white table sugar. You'll have a very economical, delicious treat that you can feel good about eating.

- Dark chocolate comes to the daily diet with heart-healthy benefits when enjoyed in moderation. Chocolate of all varieties is too fatty to be enjoyed freely - so moderation is key.

When melted, fresh fruit such as strawberries, pineapple, peaches and banana chunks can be dipped into it, thus rendering a healthy treat - a combination of candy-like glaze and a serving from the Fruit Group.

- While candy might be dandy - as well as handy, it can 'landy' the dieter into a bit of trouble because it doesn't require much to equal a significant amount of calories. A regular size candy bar which contains about 300 calories might be very tempting and delicious - but it only takes a dozen of them to gain over one pound of body fat. This is based of course, on caloric values exceeding the body's required daily amount of energy.

- You might be able to keep temptation under control by purchasing small discs of candy which contain about 20 calories each and that dissolve slowly in the mouth. Take note however, that the flavors are temporary teasers as they don't last long and there isn't enough calories or dietary fat contained within the discs to satisfy hunger or appetite. They may even make you long for more of that good thing. However, when used in moderation they can certainly provide a blast of flavor and they go a little way in satisfying the Sweet Tooth - if not entirely. And sometimes, a little is all that we need to get us over that hump in the Old Weight Loss Trail.