Tweak of the Week: Soothe Your Sweet Tooth

Just in time for Halloween and Christmas, eDiets gives the advise on sweets. I have to admit, that sometimes I crave sweets so badly that I eat strawberry preserve, but hey, dark chocolate, that's my favorite. So here's eDiets. com "Tweak of the week":

Copious amounts of candy can destroy an otherwise healthy diet. This time of year in particular, you can find sweet treats just about anywhere. The more you obsess about not indulging, the more you will want that sugar fix.
If you're like me, your sweet tooth kicks in after a good meal -- which is still an upgrade from a few years ago when it was an after-dinner cigarette. The key to quieting those cravings without packing on unwanted pounds is making the right choice to quell your cravings -- and doing so in moderation.

"If you are looking to tame that sweet tooth, you can opt for a piece of dark chocolate or even dark chocolate-covered raisins or nuts. Fruit would be ideal, but sometimes it just takes a little something to satisfy that craving -- just remember portion control. During the holidays, even a few slices of a caramel apples or a piece of the 'fun size' candy can go a long way," says eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pam Ofstein.

Pam recommends taking a few pieces of the individually wrapped candies and putting them in a bag to divvy up when you need a sugar fix. This should help to give you an option for a small treat, so you're not at the mercy of the vending machine and
its full-size candy bars -- most of which pack well over 200 calories and several grams of fat. Of course, this plan only works if you can stop at one piece.

"If you are like me and love chocolate, opt for a piece (1 oz) of dark chocolate, which is full of antioxidants, or low-fat candies like tootsie rolls and peppermint patties will soothe your sweet tooth," suggests Pam.

Stick to the dark chocolate when grabbing a sweet treat, it has less fat than milk chocolate, as well as heart-healthy antioxidants. Plus, dark chocolate is good for your skin!