Your Mantra: "I Can't Defeat My Sweet Tooth"

Smart, satisfying snacks to feed your cravings

There’s a reason women crave sweets. Cookies and candy give us a rush of endogenous opiates—the same brain chemicals behind a runner’s high— says Marcia Pelchat, Ph.D., professor of physiological psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and a researcher at the Monell Smell and Taste Institute. But too many sugary foods, which are usually loaded with calories and lacking in nutritional value, can also contribute to heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis, according to the Washington, D.C.-based nutrition watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Not so our easy, low-fat, lightly sweetened banana cream pie. Not only is it TK percent lower in fat and calories than its sugary counterpart, it’s also loaded with heart-healthy potassium, vitamin C, and fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer. Finally, a snack that is sweet and substantial.

Smart Sugar Homemade Fix: Banana Cream Pie
Serves 4

2 large bananas, sliced
1 cup low-fat or non-fat sour cream
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp reduced-fat non-trans margarine
1 tsp lemon zest
4 low-fat graham crackers, crumbled
Non-fat cooking spray

1.    In a large shallow dish or pie plate combine sour cream, 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar and lemon zest.  Set aside. 
2.    Coat a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray.  Heat the margarine over medium-high heat.  When it foams, add bananas and sprinkle with remaining brown sugar.
3.    Cook 3-4 minutes total until both sides are lightly browned.  Spoon bananas onto sour cream and sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs.  Serve immediately.


Store-bought Solution: JELL-O Fat-Free Pudding Snacks

Resist the temptation to indulge your sweet tooth with sugar substitutes. “They don’t help you lose weight, and may even increase your appetite for sweets,” says Young. Grab these rich, fat-free pudding snacks, for 100 calories a pop, instead.

---