Should You Desert the Dessert?

A few definitions

1. de-sert [di-zurt] v. – to leave without the intention of returning
2. des-sert [di-zurt] n. – a sugary treat, served as the last course of a meal
   

   

Just so you know, I’m not posting this because the holidays have just ended and it probably wouldn’t hurt for us all to lose a few lbs. I’m posing the question because I too am in a position where dessert is always around in the college cafeteria, and if I had no self-control I would probably have it every day, after every meal. But that probably wouldn’t be the wisest idea. People always wonder how to keep from gaining the freshman fifteen, and this is it people. And maybe we could all benefit from shortening our sweet tooth cravings, by not only heightening our enjoyment every so often when we do have dessert, but also by putting a halt to the gluttonous tendencies we enjoy so much.

Some Alternatives

Here are a few ways that you could cut your dessert intake. Self-control required.

1. Why, fruit of course! The natural sugars in fruit are a surrogate dessert for cakes and ice cream and pies, oh my.
2. Tea. Whether by itself or with sugar and the works. Use your imagination – a vanilla rooibos tea is comparable to a slice of vanilla cake… Like I said, use your imagination.
3. Instead of cutting out sweets all together, maybe constrain yourself to eating dessert only on the weekends, when sugar is used as a medium for social gatherings. You wouldn’t want to miss out on meeting someone new because you’re avoiding sweets, would you?
4. Use sweets as a motivator to accomplish daunting tasks, and not to self medicate. Food, including sweets, are known to have a happy effect or a fulfilling meaning in someone’s life. But that’s actually an unhealthy way to treat food and to treat yourself. When you have a project to finish, use a wonderful piece of Dove Dark Chocolate with Almond to represent the finish line. And during those times when you need a pick-me-up, instead of eating sweets to feel good, read a book or watch a movie with friends instead. Or have an adventure.
5. Eat a bowl of cereal instead. My favorites are Oatmeal Squares and Special K.