Diet Food For The Sweets Addict

Few people can resist a sweet treat at the end of a meal, or even between meals. According to a November 2010 article by United Press International, the average U.S. adult eats approximately 150 pounds of sugar each year. Calling America's love of sugar an "addiction" is not an overstatement. Researchers at the Department of Clinical Physiology at the University of Tampere Medical School in Finland found that chocolate "addicts" exhibited cravings, behaviors and psychopathology similar to drug addicts. Controlling the craving for sweets involves finding healthy alternatives, primarily ones that are nutritious and low in calories.

Frozen Yogurt

Low-fat or fat-free frozen yogurt, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states, is an excellent substitute for the sugar and cream in ice cream; sorbets, ices and sherbets also are good lower-calorie alternatives.

Sugar-Free Gelatin

The McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois suggests snacking on sugar-free gelatin as a low-calorie alternative to denser, sugary snack foods. Such low-calorie snacks can help weight loss by keeping cravings to a minimum and preventing overeating.

Vanilla Wafers

If you must have a cookie, consider a vanilla wafer. The Joslin Diabetes Center recommends a low-fat cookie such as a vanilla wafer as an alternative to higher calorie, higher fat cookies. Ginger snaps, graham crackers and animal crackers are also good low-fat cookie choices.

Fruit

Replacing the fats and sweets of many types of snack foods with fruit has become a standard public health recommendation. Eating fruit is associated with decreased risk of heart disease. In contrast, consumption of sugary foods and beverages that include corn syrup has been linked to higher risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Health reports.

Imitation Whipped Cream

What better way to top fruit or angel food cake than with a low-fat version of smooth, cool whipped cream. Whipped cream made from low fat or skim milk is a great alternative to the all-cream version.