Healthy snacks to stop the sugar craving!
With all the changes I am making in this New Year(see my post on my New Year’s Resolution), I am actually finding it harder with the craving of sugar than I thought I would. The healthy meals are not bothering me so much and surprising enough I have actually kept to my meal plan which is great!
But as for the sweet craving after lunch or in the evening, it’s actually taking its toll on me. I’ve started to get grumpy and moody! I have a lot of determination though and I will stick to it! I really need to lose weight but most importantly to be healthy and make that part of my life! Enough of yo-yoing up and down with my weight!
I have been looking for some recipes to try out in order to keep my sweet tooth satisfied but in the healthiest way possible. So any ideas are always welcome! For now however I will let you know my favourite snacks and what my go to recipes are.
My sweet tooth satisfied
I love my Greek yoghurt with fruit and honey but this just doesn’t do it for me in the winter! I also love my banana and oat cookies which are very simple to make and can be jazzed up real easy! Even the oat cups I make are really tasty and can be topped with anything from yoghurt and fruit to almond butter and nuts, depending on your mood and cravings you can top them with whatever you desire.
Another favourite is a healthy cake I make frequently, it is actually a recipe given to me by a friend, and it’s really a banana bread recipe. I find so many recipes with bananas which is great but also at the same time can get a bit boring.
All of these are a healthier option rather than chocolate bars. However I still crave that chocolate taste (drooling now for some chocolate) and especially a minty flavour such as After Eights or Aero Mint (my favourite)! Even Dairy Milk has a minty option!
All of the above recipes I have mentioned are really tasty and you cannot tell that they are either low cal or low sugar/no sugar in them. Below are the recipes for the Banana Oat Cookies, Oat Cups and the Banana Bread. Once you try them out you will understand just how delicious they really truly are!
Before I get to the recipes, I would like to ask you all to think of your favourite but healthy go to snack and at the end leave a comment with what it is you love to have on those days that you just need something sweet!
So here are the recipes….
Banana Oat Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups Rolled Oats (Gluten free or Simple Oats)
2 Large Ripe Bananas
Cinnamon and Vanilla Essence
Method
Mash the two bananas in a bowl. Mash them so that there are no lumps at all. Then add the Bananas, a dash of cinnamon and vanilla essence and mix them all well until combined.
Roll into small balls and place on a baking sheet and flatten it out into a cookie shape.
Cook on 170◦c for 15 mins or until golden brown.
Notes: You can add almost anything to these. A few options can be blueberries, raisins, chopped walnuts/almonds, chocolate chips, dried fruit and flavorings too!
Oat Cups
Ingredients
2 cups Rolled Oats (Gluten free or Simple Oats)
2 Large ripe bananas
2 Tbsp. Honey
½ Tsp Vanilla Essence
½ Tsp Cinnamon
A dash of salt
Method
Mash the banana and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Make sure to combine well.
Then place into cupcake molds, molding the mixture to form a cup like shape.
Cook at 160◦c for approx. 20 mins or until golden brown.
Banana Bread
Ingredients
2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs beaten
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp backing soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
Method
Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Lightly grease a 23 x 13 x 8 cm loaf pan.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Then pour banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
As you can see they are very simple to make and I promise you that they are finger licking good.
I hope you all like my versions of healthy treats but I also hope to hear your healthy go to sweet snacks!
What is your favourite recipe for a healthy dessert?
And if anyone has a low calorie or healthier version of something chocolatey please let me know, share your recipe with all of us!
Love these healthy snack ideas! With eating better and working out more, I find myself hungry ALL THE TIME! So I have been needing some ideas on healthy snacks! Thanks for the ideas!
Stevie, you are most welcome! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
D, xo
I’m trying to eat less sugar as well, but man, it’s hard! I am now eating all the unhealthy stuff in our house so that we’re finally finished with all that junk (excuses, excuses). Unfortunately, I have no healthy alternative food tips for you, because I’m struggling with the same! Looove banana bread!
Johanne, good luck with your journey with eating less sugar. It is hard in the begining but after the first 2 weeks you will feel much better, I promise! The trick is to not be in that mentality of dieting and instead to just stick with being healthier. It takes time and it is a process. I still eat junk food and sweets just not as much as I used to, and to be honest I can’t handle the sweets that are too sweet. I can only have a small portion of those overly sweet cakes. As I said it is a process and it will take some planing and will power.
Stay tuned however as some people may give us both some tips!
D,xo
Great ideas! It can be really challenging to overcome a craving for sweets, and these look like delicious ways to fulfill the urge!
Nikita, they are indeed. What I love most about them is that they are easy to make. I hope you enjoy these recipes!
D, xo
You had me at freshly-picked figs. I wish I could say that myself.
I posted about home-made granola on my blog. I love having it with greek yoghurt and is one of my go to snacks. Also, I’ve made chocolate balls over the weekend and like them a lot. They are not really low calorie but low carb. Will post them soon.
Hi there Eva,
I’m glad you like my go to sweet snacks! I will be on the lookout for your blog post on those chocolate balls as I will need to find a few recipes to calm my sweet craving for chocolate!
D,xo
These recipes look so delish
They really are, but don’t take just my word for it, you must make them and taste them for your self! I know you will just love them all! Would love to hear from you once you have tried them out.
D, xo
I swear I never had this snack before. I love oat, banana, vanilla, cinnamon, and tropical fruit. They’re all in within your recipe! I bookmarked this article and will make action soon..
I am so glad you love these ideas! Let me know which one is your favourite once you have tried them!
D, xo
Love greek yogurt and such healthy combination
Indeed it is very healthy. My fridge is never without greek yoghurt!
D, xo
Love this post! I am always looking for new healthier recipes to try. Thank you for sharing.
Ninz xx
Thank you Ninz! I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do. If you have any healthy chocolaty recipes let me know!
D, xo
I love the recipes. Looking really yummy. I’d definitely try
Thank you. Let me know your favourite one!
D, xo