How to Keep My Sweet Tooth Under Control

If you have a sweet tooth, you may be predisposed. A study published in 2007 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that you may inherit the proclivity to crave sweets. Your sweet tooth can cause you to add unnecessary calories to your diet. The fats in sugary foods can also raise your chances of developing diabetes or heart disease. There are things you can do, however, to control your sweet tooth.

Instructions

• 1

  Eat during the day. Don't skip breakfast. Your energy drops if you skip a meal. This can cause you to crave something sweet, which will give you an energy boost. Try eating every three to five hours to keep your blood sugar stable. Choose things like whole-grain breads or yogurt. Have fresh vegetables around to munch on.

• 2

  Choose substitutes. Eating fruit gives you a sweet taste, but in a healthy way. Another option is to take some toast and add a little jam or preserves to sweeten and satisfy your craving.

• 3

  Drink something sweet. Sip on low-calorie tea, for instance. There are also flavored waters that have low calories and provide a little sweetness. You can even try low-calorie hot chocolate.

• 4

  Move around. You may just need to get up and distract yourself from your craving. Sometimes, boredom is the cause for reaching for a snack. Take a short walk around the block to get your mind off your sweet tooth and get a breath of fresh air.

• 5

  Indulge yourself in a healthy way. You don't have to completely deny yourself. This may force you to have deep cravings and end up binging. Instead of eating two cookies, eat one. Or have one small piece of your favorite candy. Eat it slowly and savor it. Allow yourself to indulge once a day.