Are those visions of sugar-plum fairies dancing in your head? Sure, it might seem like a crime not to at least TRY your family’s signature sugar cookie recipe. But first, let’s take a look at a few tricks to avoid overindulging on the “white stuff.” And no, I’m not talking about snow…

Most of us have already gotten the message loud and clear: Cut down on sugar. But not many of us realize just how serious a threat sugar can pose to our health and well-being. Sugar expert, JJ Virgin said in her revolutionary book, The Sugar Impact Diet, “Reducing sugar is the one thing that can jump-start your weight loss or crack the code on breaking through a plateau better than any other.”

The trick with desserts is to acknowledge your cravings and make informed choices about your indulgences. Sweets are not necessarily off-limits; the occasional dessert can still fit into your healthy lifestyle.

Here’s how:

Be prepared.

Anticipate your cravings, especially around holidays. During these times, eat a bit more lean protein, chew some peppermint gum. Also, try filling up on water throughout the day! I try to set an alarm every hour on the hour from 8 am – 5 pm and drink a glass when my alarm sounds. Not only will this tame your appetite, it will also give you bursts of energy and alertness throughout the day.

Savor the flavor

Register every creamy bite of your chosen treat very, very slowly. The experience of the food is a big part of the satisfaction derived, and you’ll need less food to be satisfied if you enjoy it slowly.

Be choosy.

If a treat isn’t absolutely fabulous, stop eating it! Why waste calories on a piece of chocolate or slice of cake that’s just OK? If you’re going to go for it, have something divine. Anything less is simply not worth it.

Dine for dessert.

When you sit down to a meal and know you intend to have dessert, eliminate the carbohydrate group from that meal. Your dessert here will count as toward your carbohydrate limit.

Be guilt-free.

Eat your treat, enjoy it slowly and smile afterwards contentedly. Instead of making sweets off-limits, change your relationship with sweets so you control them instead of them controlling you.

This holiday season, swap out your sugary brownie recipe with this no-sugar added Zucchini Brownie delight. This is better than ANY brownie recipe I’ve EVER tried!

Guilt-Free Zucchini Brownies

INGREDIENTS

1 cup garbanzo bean flour
1 cup almond meal
3 tbsp ground flax seed meal
3 spoons of unsweetened dark chocolate organic cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp organic cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powered
1/2 baking soda
2 cup shredded zucchini
1 1/2 cup shredded carrots
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup of apple sauce
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 bag of dark chocolate chips

 DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350. Beat the eggs, then blend in the olive oil, apple sauce, zucchini, carrots and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth and thoroughly mixed.

2. In another bowl mix bean and almond flour, flax seed meal, baking powder and soda, cinnamon and sea salt. Add this dry mixture to wet ingredients, mix until just wet and ingredients are combined; fold in chocolate chips.

2. Spray pan with organic coconut oil spray, then pour batter in. Bake about 30 minutes or until browned and a knife comes clean.