Alternative 'treats'

[Autumnlily14]

I was just wondering, people who have cut out confectionery, chocolate etc, what is it you eat when you want something resembling a pudding? Such as around Christmas or something.

I've been trying to lose weight for ages and the only time I've managed to lose significant weight (nearly 4 stone) was when I had to eat low fat for gallstones and I'm frustrated that I've regained it all. I also worry I might have binge eating (gp won't do anything despite saying they'll chase up a referral) and my trigger food is chocolate.

I've tried just eating small bits, not keeping it in the house etc but I always end up eating it again. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to cut it out completely which I'm worried is going to be really hard and seems harder for not having an alternative healthy food that seems like a 'treat.'

So I was hoping someone might provide something that feels like a luxury but is actually healthy. Thank you all.

Yoghurt with fresh berries? I sometimes make that as a treat for dessert, with a broken tea biscuit at the bottom for 'crunch', if I feel like it. We also make 'milkshakes' with frozen, ripe bananas and some milk (or milk alternative). Anything with fresh fruit has a nice sweetness to it, but some nutrients as well. I should admit though, I'm not a huge chocolate person.

There was a thread maybe about a month ago where the OP was singing praises about a snack that satisfied her sweet tooth and stopped her craving more sweet stuff. It was… drumrolls… mejdool dates stuff with peanut butter. I think dipping in melted dark chocolate was optional. But lots of posters came on saying they had found the same, it was quite filling. There were variations too. Let me see of i can find it.

Another vote for the date thing! I sprinkle coconut over the chocolate. Sometimes I make it with white or caramel chocolate, obviously not as healthy but it does satisfy my sweet tooth rather than having a whole bar of chocolate (or more!). You could also try whizzing frozen banana with cocoa powder and a bit of nut milk.

An ice lolly or sorbet

I've kind of gone cold turkey on all snacking and treats. Just trying to eat 3 normal meals a day, lots of veg and protein, and some carb that is brown or wholemeal.

I find I'm less inclined to snack then and when I do snack I go for nuts or fruit....

I've sort of lost the taste for sweet stuff now and don't buy it.

Dried figs, almond butter, cashews, macadamias.
I make almond flour cookies using honey and dates. Pineapple, mango, melon, blueberries.
Make crepe batter and serve one, thinly, with a tiny bit of maple syrup and lemon?

They're all pretty sweet so still a bit binge worthy, but if you can just have a bit then it is quite satisfying!

I don't understand the medjool date and PB thing. Dates are very high in sugar and PB is very calorie dense. May be more nutritious than chocolate but definitely not an aid to weight loss.

For a treat that is very low fat and low calorie, I go for luxurious fruits that are a bit too expensive for everyday - lychees or strawberries, fresh raspberries or blueberries. Or a really nice melon.

If the craving is for chocolate, ime, only chocolate will do - a square or two of 70% or higher. Or at Christmas, DH and I buy one small box of outrageously expensive chocolates. They work out at about £2 each. DC mock us for it, but we just never eat more than one or two a day, to make them last. They are delicious but they aren't packed with that fat/salt/sugar ratio that food manufacturers have discovered makes us crave more and more.

If the craving is for something really sweet, then I do resort to more processed foods sometimes - 10 cal jellies, mini milk lollies, mini twisters or baby Magnums, go ahead brownies, low fat flapjacks etc. But not often as they are all designed to make you want more to eat.

Thank you all for your replies there's some helpful tips in there. To be honest, I'm struggling with all my eating. I definitely need to reduce my appetite but I'm so hungry all the time. I've got fibromyalgia and an underactive thyroid which don't help.

I've tried looking on mumsnet to see what other people are eating but I've found it's all really really healthy food that I wouldn't eat (a salad EVERYDAY, pulses, lentils, nuts (IBS) etc.)

I also need to try and make sure whatever I eat is df and something my toddlers will eat too as we don't have enough money to buy multiple different meals.

So any suggestions for other meals, or a layout of what you eat for each meal, would be great.

I'm struggling with making sure it's maintainable. Part of me finds the food addictive and things cold turkey is best but then the other part of me wonders whether I'm truly going to be able to never eat chocolate again. I'm desperate to form better eating habits I just don't really know what path to take.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5057235-aibu-to-tell-you-ive-found-the-miracle-cure-for-excessive-sugar-consumption?page=9&reply=134670824

These are delicious but can be quite calorific.
I have 5 small dates (36g at 103 calories) and 7g almond butter (45 cals) with a twist of salt on top. It’s delicious but I do have to weigh and portion them or could easily eat too many. Obviously it’s healthier than chocolate but a single twirl finger is, iirc, 114 calories and my portion of dates and nut butter is 148 calories.

I have been enjoying lately a couple of tablespoons of Fage 0% greek yoghurt with a handful of blueberries with a a tbsp of melted peanut butter drizzled on top. It makes a decent serving size and the protein keeps me full. Sometimes I grate over some chocolate too (makes a little go a long way)

Or if I am really craving chocolate I sometimes just melt a couple of squares of dark chocolate and mix into it some walnuts or almonds and the fat / fibre / protein / crunch it adds helps me feel much more satisfied and full from a smaller amount of chocolate than I'd eat if I just ate the chocolate alone.

Hi, OP -

Our fairly healthy chocolate treat is a homemade chocolate ice lolly. I see you need df treats but I think you could do this with any alternative milk.

You need to buy some ice lolly moulds (with sticks). We use 1-2-3 squares of 70% dark choc per mould and a bit of sugar or other sweetener for children. You can add vanilla, cinnamon, salt, etc as you like. Melt with the milk on the cooktop or in the MW. Adjust seasonings and freeze until firm.

A hot weather treat, let’s hope we will be needing it soon. It takes a little while to eat, children enjoy making and eating it. It can be low-ish, healthy fat (though it is delicious with single cream, it is also tasty with nonfat milk) and is fairly low calorie - those moulds don’t actually hold much, but fool the eye.