Satisfy your Sweet Tooth With 100 Calories (...or less!)

Just because you're watching what you eat doesn't mean you can't make your sweet tooth happy. There are many low-calorie options out there that can curb your sugar craving without destroying your diet. Believe me, I know.

Despite my love of sugar, I've managed to lose weight eating things that TASTE GOOD. In the last year, I've tried lots of different guilt-free treats. I've also managed to lose over 35 lbs in the last year (YAY!) Yet I didn't do it buy eating things that taste like crap. "Sugar-free" is not part of my vocabulary, and there's no fooling my palate when it comes to dessert.

So, from one sugar lover to another, here's the skinny on some superb, low-calorie sweets...

I'm a true cereal lover; I can eat it with milk, dry outta the package, or sprinkled over ice cream. Unfortunately, it's pretty easy to abuse your cereal privilege if you don't actually measure out your portions. This is why General Mills Cereal Treats are THA SHIZZ!

These 100-calorie bars come in my favorite cereal flavors (Lucky Charms & Cinnamon Toast Crunch) and are great if you're looking for something on-the-go. Now, although these treat bars are NOMtastic, try not to go overboard and eat the whole box. Sure, they're smaller than your average bowl of cereal, but they've been conveniently packaged into individual servings for a reason.

FYI- General Mills also makes Golden Graham and Cocoa Puff versions, but they are significantly higher in calories (130 & 210 calories, respectively.)

Let's face it, pudding is damn-DELICIOUS (Bill Cosby said so!) Lucky for us, it's not that high in calories either. And, thankfully, the smart people at Jell-O made convenient 100-calorie (or less) pudding packs called "Handi-Snacks"...SCORE!!

There's a great variety of Handi Snacks to choose from, including extra special flavors inspired by Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavors (MmmmmmMmmm...fudge rocky road....rrrrahhwwlll *drools*)

Sure, it's not the best treat if you're lacking a spoon. But, if no one is watching, who the hell cares? When you're a sugar addict like me, how you eat isn't nearly as important as what you're eating. I've seen people finger poi like it was the most flavorful glop in the universe (in my opinion, it tastes more like Elmer's glue tinted with a violet crayon- bleh!) So, if ya got pudding, go ahead and indulge!

With or with out spoon ....................... With. or. with. out. spoon. uh-huh.

(Sorry, I had a little U2 moment there...lol!)

Baked goods are my kryptonite. As soon as I step foot into a pastry shop, bakery, or birthday party, I turn into Homer Simpson from the "Land of Chocolate" episode. If you're not familiar with the reference, I've included the video clip for your viewing pleasure (^-^)

Anywho...being a lover of sweet oven creations has made me quite the connoisseur of all treats baked. However, brownies and I have had quite a nutty relationship. Sometime I love 'em, sometimes I hate 'em. Usually, I'll nab a square at parties only to find they're either too dry or too chewy, too hard or too...raw. Truth is, the only brownies that ever really captivated my tastebuds were from Big Island Candies (and at 200 calories per bite-size pop, I needed to stay FAR away from their deliciousness!)

Then I saw a box of 90-calorie Fiber One brownies at Target one day. The price was right (under $3 for a box of 6 brownies) and I was in need of some go-to snacks, so I picked up a box. Since my expectations weren't too high (given my history with brownies), I was pretty startled to find that the were quite yummy. Fiber One's brownies are light and fluffy, more cake-ish than fudgey, and have chunks of chiptastic-awesomeness baked right in!

They may not be the most decadent of brownies but, for only 90-calories, Fiber One's take on this feel-good treat has made me a repeat customer!

Mother Nature was one smart cookie! After all, fruit is the world's FIRST candy rainbow (suck it, Skittles!) The earth provides us with delicious syrupy jewels, an abundant and diverse mosaic of edible treasure. Nothing tastes better than a ripe gem crafted by the sun and nurtured by the rain. But, best of all, along with your dose of fruity sugar you'll receive...vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber- YAY!!

Seriously though, please eat your fruit. Once upon a time, I would have chose a Snickers bar over a bowl of fresh strawberries & tangerines. Not anymore! Truthfully, I'd chose fruit over anything on this list =(^.^)=

Fruit Calories Chart

Apple,1 raw apple with skin = 81 cals

Apricots, 3 medium = 51 cals

Banana, 1 medium = 105 cals

Blackberries, ½ cup = 37 cals

Blueberries, ½ cup = 40 cals

Sweet cherries, 10 = 49 cals

Dried dates, 5 = 114 cals

Dried figs, 2 = 95 cals

Grapefruit, pink/red, ½ medium = 39 cals

Grapes, 1 cup = 58 cals

Guava, 1 medium = 46 cals

Honeydew, 1 cup, cubed = 60 cals

Kiwi, 1 medium = 46 cals

Mango, 1 medium = 135 cals

Nectarine, 1 medium = 67 cals

Navel orange, 1 medium = 60 cals

Papaya, 1 medium = 119 cals

Peach, 1 medium = 37 cals

Pear, 1 medium = 98 cals

Pineapple, 1 cup = 76 cals

Plum, 1 medium = 36 cals

Dried prunes, 5 = 100 cals

Seedless raisins, ⅔ cup = 300

Raspberries, ½ cup = 30

Strawberries 1 cup = 45 cals

Tangerine, 1 medium = 37 cals

Watermelon, 1 cup, cubed = 51 cals

[source: http://www.linda-rd.com]

Breakfast is made up of all things wonderful; pancakes, bacon, eggs, waffles, sausage, syrup, streusel... YUMMEROOSKIFOODS!! <----go ahead and yell that out loud, it feels good!

Now, let's try a morning math equation:

Bagel + cream cheese = 2 thumbs WAY up d(^-^)b

Ahhhh, carbs-n-creamy-cheese...what a brilliant invention!

If you're looking for a low-calorie twist on this classic breakfast choice, here's the combination for you--- toast half of a cinnamon-raisin bagel thin (Thomas, 55 cals) and slather it with a strawberry cream cheese wedge (Laughing Cow, 45 cals)...sunshine-a-lee-delicious!!

...and the rabbit said, "Silly doughnut, bagels are the sh*t!!"

Sometimes, you just feel like drinking sugar (which is probably why soft drinks and canned juices are such a big hit.) Sweet drinks just have way of bringing a refreshing smile to the grumpiest of faces. Yet a juicy wave of Hawaiian Punch adds surfing and shakas to the mix!

Alright, maybe I'm biased. Yes, I'm from Hawaii. And, yes, I'm not really a fan of soda. But, to be completely honest, my usual liquid of choice is good ol' fashioned ice water. Still, when I'm enjoying a sunny day on the beach, drinking a sweet can of the ruby juice fills me with aloha!

At only 100 calories per can, Punchy's go-go juice is the perfect choice when you feel the need to taste some heavenly nectar. Plus, if you're feeling frisky (and are "of age") add a shot of vodka or rum to create a fabulously fruity cocktail.

I love covering things in chocolate; it makes me happy. Only problem is, I tend to go a little overboard. Doing the calorie math after making homemade confections can be a painful experience. Luckily, the Snackwell fairy has come to the rescue.

Snackwell's angelic treats truly speak for themselves. With 100-calorie packs of fudge pretzels, yogurt pretzels, caramel popcorn, mint-fudge petites, chocolate chip cookies, and many more, you can have a different snacktastic goodie each day of the week. What more can I say?

Thank you, dear Sugar-Goddess, for bringing Snackwell's into my life!

Popsicles are frozen treats that are both cool and candy-like. They're easy to make, cheap to buy, and are the perfect way to add color and cheer to your summer soiree. Yet besides just beating the heat, popsicles can also give you more licks for you calorie-buck!

My absolute favorite popsicle is Breyer's Real Fruit Berry Swirls (40 calories per bar), which comes in a box of four flavors; strawberry-lemon, strawberry-orange, blueberry-lemon, and blueberry-strawberry. Not only are they delectable, they're a great source of vitamin C. I'm eating a one as I type this (no joke!)

I also like the cheap-o boxes of popsicles you find in the juice box section. Here's my take on on the brands I've tried; Kool-aid pops and Otterpops ROCK, Mike & Ike ice pops are a little on the watery side, and Icee soda pops are way too syrupy. Still, no matter what brand you choose, you'll be able to have at least 3 pops before going over the 100 calorie limit (that is, provided the box doesn't make boasts of "giant" proportions.)

Please don't tell the cookie monster about these treats. This mix of absolute deliciousness is like heroin to him. He'll chomp away all your golden wafers, leaving behind nothing but crumbs and wrinkled fortunes. With that being said, ME WANT COOKIE!!!

Chocolate-dipped fortune cookies are easy to make and are a snack-tastic gift to receive! Not to mention, they look a lot more sinful than they really are. Your average fortune cookie is about 30 calories. That means, since melted chocolate (depending on the variety) is about 70 calories per tablespoon, you can be generous with your dippin'!

If you're lucky enough to wander into Big Island Candies (Hilo, HI), you can also buy a decadent gourmet version (still only a 100 calories, but tastes like 500!) Unfortunately, they don't ship well. So, although you can still order the world's most magnificent cookies on the Big Island Candies website, you won't be able to crunch their chocolate fortune unless you're in my neck of the woods.

If you think yogurt is boring, you haven't been given the complete tour through yogurt-town (which is right next to Yogurtland...hmmm, maybe we should start there.)

Frozen yogurt, or "fro-yo", is a sensationally creamy treat with a texture and taste much like soft serve. Places like Yogurtland and TCBY offer marvelously delightful flavors that range between 80-130 calories per 1/2 cup serving. Therefore, if you manage to stay away from the toppings, you'll be in the clear.

Now, when it comes to good ol' in-a-cup yogurt, things have changed over the years. Long gone are the days when you are stuck choosing between plain, vanilla, or cherry. In fact, the master yogurt makers at Yoplait have created lip-smacking flavors (such as black forest cake, white chocolate strawberry, and orange dreamsicle) that come in 90-calorie containers.

There's also "Greek-style" varieties of yogurt (I love Chobani's vanilla chocolate chunk flavor!) These types are a bit thicker and creamier than regular yogurt but contain almost double the protein with less carbs, calcium, and sodium. Containers of Greek yogurt are also more expensive and range from 100-170 calories per serving.

Got more low-calorie sweets to share? My tastebuds (or, shall I say "tastebros") are always down to try new sugary sensations. So, please comment with you favorite store-bought treats or leave a link to your best low-calorie dessert recipes.

Happy snack-time to all,

TattooKitty =(^.^)=