Try these ultimate recipes to curb sugar cravings

Sweet tooth anyone? I’m sure we’ve all had some sugar cravings at some point in our lives. It is completely normal to have that desire for some sweet treat, be my guest! But, if you constantly find yourself craving more sugar than normal, to the point that it’s driving you insane and you feel like it’s sabotaging your wellness goals, then you need to check out on these healthy snack recipes to curb sugar cravings. 

I came up with these snacks because they are super healthy, inexpensive, easy to make, filling, and they can actually help boost your wellness goals. Here’s the thing, I’m obsessed with making things effective, delicious and simple, so you will want to try out something different to curb those sugar cravings. It’s not just about having the regular boring fruit snack, there are other snack ideas you can try. Apart from that, these snack ideas are perfect for a gathering or during the weekend, if you don’t want to indulge in a pack of plantain chips on the couch… lol

Perfect recipes to curb sugar cravings

Healthy and sweet wedges on a dip 

Keep reading my friend! 

I’m excited to share why this combination makes it a great snack or side dish for a healthy meal to curb those sugar cravings. I will be honest, I’m a fan of creating healthy, creamy delicious dips. Even though I don’t fancy mayo that much, I still find ways to come up with dressings or dips that are not only nutritious, but can also get those cravings  under control,, without sabotaging weight loss or the fitness game. Yes! So I used sweet potatoes, which are one of the healthiest foods ever for their high nutritional value and paired them with a greek yogurt based dip. Sounds tasty right? Ok, I’ll share some facts about these two unique recipes, but first, let’s go over some important hacks about foods that curb sugar cravings. 

Recipes to curb sugar cravings: The nutrition facts behind them 

When it comes to cutting down on sugar cravings, there are some things you need to know. First of all, having constant sugar cravings could be due to many factors: your blood sugar levels are down (or even on a roller coaster), you are stressed, you are lacking some vital nutrients in your body (especially fiber and protein), digestive problems, or simply you have anxiety issues, among other stuff. Yes, our bodies are complex, so there are some top simple ways to curb sugar cravings for good, and that’s something I covered in my earlier blog post here, make sure you check it out!

As far as creating recipes to curb sugar cravings goes, the best thing to do is choose foods that are high in protein, fiber, healthy fat and low in processed (simple) sugars. Foods that are rich in these nutrients will not only boost your weight loss and fitness goals, uplevel your metabolism, but also get the main goal, which is make you feel full for longer. These foods are filling, nutritious, tasty and will satisfy your sweet tooth! Also, what I love about these is that they are whole foods, no need to buy any expensive packs of any of these foods, you can get them in your local supermarket or even at the farmer’s market. These are also gluten-free recipes which is a great alternative if you live this type of lifestyle.  

Here are two of my favorite recipes to curb sugar cravings you should try:

Zesty Baked sweet potato wedges

Whether you decide to have them alone with the next dip I’m sharing with you, or as a side dish with your favorite meal, these sweet potatoes are a sure way to satisfy your cravings. And they taste like heaven!

Sweet potatoes are rich sources of fiber, they have low glycemic index (which means it will not spike up your blood sugar fast), they are low calorie and have tons of vitamins and minerals that our body needs. It’s the perfect superfood that you should include in your regular meals, and now as a snack!

Because they are baked, it makes them easy to digest, super delicious and to keep up with your fitness lifestyle. I always like to add that touch of spice to enhance the taste! Cooking sweet potatoes this way is really easy and healthy, there’s no need to add too much oil when baking and it doesn’t require you to spend long hours in the kitchen. They are perfect for on the go!

Another thing I really like about them is how versatile they can be for any other combination, or as I mentioned, you can snack on them with the yogurt based dip, which will make you feel full and will not cause you to overeat. If you’re thinking about something different to snack on with your family, this is the perfect option to go for instead of the regular french fries or bag of chips. You need to try this and I’m sure you’ll thank me later!

Greek yogurt and herbs “ranch” dip

Yummy… Let me introduce you to my favorite homemade dip! A nutritious, creamy and delicious combination of plain greek yogurt, herbs and spices to replace that traditional ranch dip you are already used to. This is not your regular “mayo” or “ranch” dip you’ve tried, I’m sure… But I promise you it tastes like heaven! 

I used greek yogurt as the base for this dip as it is a sneaky way of adding that extra protein in your daily intake, plus reducing the amount of saturated fat in your meals. There’s something about greek yogurt that makes it unique not only as a superfood, but also for the taste in recipes. Greek yogurt became very popular for the higher nutritional value compared to the other types of yogurt you usually find. Now, adding greek yogurt to your dips can give you that sense and taste of having a ranch dip, without that extra fat, which is why I love it. 

Greek yogurt is one of the few dairy products that can boost that daily protein intake, since, compared to regular yogurt, it has up to double the amount of protein. Also, greek yogurt is gut friendly, due to the probiotics (fiber) that will improve your digestion. It’s also a great source of calcium, which is essential for your bones and for strong muscles. Since it has less carbs than the regular form of yogurt, it will reduce your blood sugar and thus cause less cravings. 

How to use the greek yogurt and herbs dip

This is the fun part! Besides pairing it with sweet potato wedges, you can also dip veggies. I love using cucumber slices, carrots, broccoli, and celery stalks, to give you some examples. This is a great way to eat a healthy snack by adding more taste and fiber into your meals. And kids will love it, for sure! If your kid is struggling to eat their veggies, this is a creative way to make them enjoy these foods. 

You can store this dip in the fridge and can always use leftovers as a salad dressing. If stored correctly, this dip can last for up to 5-7 days in the fridge. This is also great for a white sauce that you can add to chicken or fish. There’s so much versatility to this dip that you cannot go wrong in the kitchen. It’s family friendly as well, so you can double the portions and make a dip for the rest of the team at home. 

In short…

So, let’s dive into these healthy, delicious recipes to curb sugar cravings. Check out the details below for each recipe. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. Remember that sharing is caring, so if you know of someone that is beating themselves up because they need some recipes to curb sugar cravings, this is the time to let them see these ideas. Here we go!

Zesty Baked sweet potato wedges

Time: 50 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1. 3 medium sweet potatoes or 2 large sweet potatoes
2. ⅓ cup olive oil
3. 1 teaspoon salt
4. one teaspoon oregano
5. ½  teaspoon pepper
6. Optional: ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).   
2. Thoroughly wash sweet potatoes carefully, under running water. 
3.  Cut potatoes into wedges. 
4. Mix up all ingredients and toss with potatoes. 
5. Place on a baking sheet (pan or pyrex) with skin down. 
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes. 
7. Enjoy!

Greek yogurt and herbs “ranch” dip

Time: 10 minutes

Yields: 2 servings

Calories per serving: 130

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups of plain greek yogurt
2. 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley or chive
3. 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
4. 4 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
5. 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. ½ teaspoon ground pepper
8. Optional: dash of paprika

Instructions:

1. Add the greek yogurt to a large bowl. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Stir in the herbs, garlic powder, ACV, salt, and pepper until well incorporated. 
2. Taste and adjust the seasonings. 
3. Cover bowl and chill (for at least 4 hours or overnight) to allow the flavors to blend.
4. Top with additional fresh herbs.
5. Enjoy!