You may assume that living a healthy lifestyle means giving up all the things you love:
Cheese.
Pasta.
Cupcakes.
I’m happy to tell you that you, my friend, have been misled!
You can have your cupcake (and eat it, too!) and still make progress on your wellness journey. Here’s how.
By making the snack an event you allow yourself to relax and de-stress, adding some much-needed self-care instead of adding to your self-judgment.
Go big or stay home.
The first step in making sweet treats part of your healthy lifestyle is allowing yourself to get the treat you REALLY want, instead of a budget version that might be less satisfying.
For example, my good friend Misti used to take herself on chocolate dates where she would sample different styles and flavors of decadent, rich, dark chocolate. You know the kind. They’re in a specialty foods store wrapped in paper that looks like it should be wallpapering a french mansion, and they come in flavors like blueberry or spiced orange.
Because each bite of this rich chocolate was truly satisfying and sensational, she didn’t feel the need for more than a few squares.
Doesn’t that sound better than mindlessly downing a whole bag of M&Ms?
Make your treat a special occasion
Whether you’re indulging your sweet tooth once a day or once a month, allow each experience with your favorite treat to be a celebration. Skip the donuts in your office break room in favor of driving to your favorite bakery on your lunch break, sitting down near a bright window, and allowing yourself to bask in the glory that is a perfectly made eclair.
Instead of sneaking that piece of cake out of the fridge in the dark of night (I see you, midnight snackers!), light a candle, put that cake on a plate, make yourself a nice cuppa, and enjoy that cake in your favorite chair with your favorite podcast.
By making the snack an event you allow yourself to relax and de-stress, adding some much-needed self-care instead of adding to your self-judgment.
Eat mindfully
Mindful eating is the practice of slowing down and savoring your food instead of just rushing through it. It is the difference between the way the women in yogurt commercials eat yogurt, and the way the rest of us do.
Mindful eating helps with weight management by allowing your nervous system to fully process your eating experience, so that by the time you’re done eating you actually feel satisfied instead of reaching for another slice of pie.
To eat mindfully, start by getting rid of any distractions. Step away from your computer. Put down your phone. Turn of the T.V.
Before you take your first bite, notice how your cupcake looks. What are the colors you see? What sort of textures are visible?
Next, notice the smell of it.
Then, finally, take the first bite. Allow yourself to savor and chew slowly. You can even try counting the number of times you chew each bite, aiming to get to 30 before swallowing. Notice the way the food softens a bit with each chew, slowly releasing more flavor as it dissolves in your mouth.
Wait until you have completely finished your first bite before taking another.
Repeat until you feel satisfied, or until your cupcake is finished. Whichever comes first.
Share with a friend
Sitting down to share food is one of the ways we build community as humans. It’s a perfect way to show you care and enjoy the company of good friends AND good food. Whether you share one slice of pie, or each order something different and steal off each other’s plates, you’ll get more of the great flavors with slightly fewer calories. Plus, you’ll be building stronger social connections, which has health benefits all on its own! This also works great if you love baking your own sweet treats, as you can bring your plate of cookies to a neighbor’s house as a gift, or bring your cake to your next office meeting. Let your sweet tooth brighten everyone’s day!