There is a lot of talk about sugar at the moment. Here at Lose Baby Weight, we’ve covered which sugary foods to watch out for, some ideas for reducing sugar cravings, and some ideas for replacing the white stuff.
And here you can take part in our FREE Reduce Sugar Challenge
The good news is that there are some naturally sweet foods that you can enjoy while you are losing weight.
Today we are going to take a look at three of our favourite ‘sweets’ – sweet potato, coconut, and dates.
These naturally sweet foods that can be used in your main meals, baking, desserts, and even in some smoothies.
Sweet Potato
These orange cousins of the regular white potato have so many health benefits.
They are low GI, meaning that they are processed in a way that doesn’t make your blood sugar levels spike.
They are high in fibre which is great news for your digestive system.
Sweet potatoes are full of beta-carotene, giving them their bright orange colour. This helps to reduce your risk of diabetes and weight gain.
Sweet potatoes are also a source of potassium which is a mineral that can reduce high blood pressure.
From chips to fish cakes to curries, sweet potatoes are such a versatile vegetable. Try some of our healthy recipes using sweet potato and see if you enjoy the natural sweetness.
- Crispy Sweet Potato Chips
- Baked Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes
- Baked Sweet Potato and Coconut Curry
- Sweet Potato Wedges
- Healthy Shepherd’s Pie
Coconut
All over the world, coconut is widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes. It is a very versatile fruit, as it offers the coconut meat (or flesh), the juice, milk and the oil.
If you haven’t tried coconut oil in your cooking, it may be worth seeking it out from your local health food shop. Coconut oil can help to reduce obesity and weight issues as it can boost your metabolism and give you energy, as well as keeping you fuller for longer which means you are less likely to eat too much.
Some people find that by having coconut oil in their diet they tend to snack less and their sweet cravings are reduced.
Coconut has many health benefits. It is high in fibre which helps to keep your digestive system at its best. It also contains protein, iron and Vitamin C.
Coconut is available in many forms at your local supermarket – think coconut cream, coconut milk, whole coconuts (for the milk and flesh), shredded, desiccated and even in yoghurt.
Try some of our coconut loving recipes and enjoy the health benefits of this sweet tropical fruit.
- Healthy Coconut Chicken Burgers
- Prawn, Coconut & Tomato Curry Recipe
- Coconut and Apricot Protein Balls Recipe
- Chocolate, Coconut & Banana Smoothie
- Rockmelon, Pear and Coconut Smoothie
Dates
You may have noticed that here at Lose Baby Weight we sometimes use dates as a way of sweetening anything from muffins to scones, biscuits and even smoothies.
Although they may be higher in calories than fresh fruit, they pack a nutritional punch with their protein, fibre, some B vitamins (including folate), iron, calcium and potassium.
Try some of our sweet treats for desserts, healthy snacks and smoothies to kick start your day.
- Avocado, Coconut, Date and Chocolate Pudding
- Date, Oat and Walnut Biscuits
- Wholemeal Date and Orange Scones
- Choc, Banana & Date Smoothie
- Fruit And Nut Baked Apples
What are some of your favourite naturally sweet foods? We would love to hear from you in the comments.
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