Fit Tip Tuesday #5: Tips for Treats

Fit Tip Tuesday is here! To link up, grab a button, glance over the rules, and add your link to the list!

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My fit tip is Valentine’s themed (duh!): how to indulge in treats the healthy way!

valentines day treats 2

I’m all for indulging. I love love love delicious cookies, pastas, cakes, you name it! I am a firm believer in not restricting yourself to unhappiness, but rather learning how to enjoy those “unhealthy” things in a healthier way. Holidays is particular lose all their fun when you’re counting calories. Here are my top tips to enjoy Valentine’s Day treats without risking your health:

1. Make it homemade! Homemade is ALWAYS better. You never know what companies are throwing in your food when you buy it at the store, making it at home ensures that you know exactly what’s in there. Use real ingredients — real sugar, real flour, real healthy fats. Making it homemade also allows you to substitute butter and unhealthy fats for avocado and other unsaturated fats.

2. Stay away from “sugar free” and “low/non fat” snacks! You’d think these would be better for you, but actually they are loaded up with artificial chemicals and other things to make them attempt to taste as good as the real deal. Using real sugar and healthy fats at home is much healthier than aspartame and artificial flavorings! Plus, typically things that are sugar free are high in fat, and fat free high in sugar, so there’s always a lose!

3. Moderation is key. There’s nothing romantic or sexy about downing a whole box of chocolates. I’ll never forget the day I realized this: one cookie tastes the exact same as ten. Slowly enjoying a cookie gives you that amazing taste and satisfaction of enjoying a dessert. What will that second cookie taste like? The exact same. Why do you need to eat it if you just enjoyed a cookie? You experienced the taste already, there’s nothing new!

4. Try a guiltless treat! Dark chocolate covered strawberries — BAM. Dessert made of healthy ingredients. Greek yogurt and berry parfait — BAM. Delish. You can get really creative with these and impress any guests or significant others

5. Make a healthy dinner to have a more guiltless dessert. I don’t know about you, but for me, V-day is all about the dessert. Skip the heavy pasta or red meat meal and go for a light salad and fish so you can save up some calories from carbs and fat for dessert!

Bonus totally inappropriate tip: burn that dessert off if ya know what I mean! =O

Let’s go y’all, gimmie your best fit tips!


What are you baking or cooking up for Valentine’s Day?!

xx
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  • Cassie Vaughn

    I love the bake it yourself tip! I feel a little forced to do this anyway… dairy allergy and no trader’s joe or whole foods near me… but I think it’s 1000X better for me if I make it!

  • Kristin

    Lovin’ the party! Thanks for stopping by our link up - glad we can share with everyone!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Thank you! So glad you could link up too :)

      xo

  • Tiffany

    That looks so tasty! Thanks for the tips.

  • Heather Murphy

    These are such great tips, and couldn’t agree more! I think moderation is my number one rule, and no sugar- free, it just makes me crave sugar more!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Exaclty! It’s a vicious cycle.

      xo

  • http://www.consciouskitchenblog.com/ Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog

    Love these tips! Especially 1 & 3! To me, they kind of go together… I always have to remember moderation after baking!

  • Skinny Opinion

    Love the “one cookie tastes exactly the same as ten.” Moderation IS key!! I’m baking chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered strawberries for my hubby this year <3 Moderation is a necessity!!!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Yum!! I think chocolate covered strawberries are a V day MUST!!

      xo

  • The Healthy Collective

    Great Tips!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Thanks Hil!

      xo

  • http://gigieatscelebrities.com/ GiGi Eats Celebrities

    My favorite “dessert” = ROASTED butternut squash with cinnamon!!! SWWOOON!!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      YUUUM of course you love cinnamon! hahhaha xo

  • Pingback: You'll Frittata Over This Heart-y Dish! - GiGi Eats Celebrities

  • http://www.alldayactivewear.com/blog Amanda @ All Day Activewear

    Wonderful tips! Especially #3 — MODERATION! It’s my motto for most things in life :)

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Thanks Amanda! I totally agree — moderation is key across the board!

      xo

  • Amy @ The Little Honey Bee

    Love these tips Lisa (as per usual). I think #2 is so important… the “faux healthy” treats. I almost always have a plate of treats for the week. I usually bake up a batch of something delicious and totally healthy. There are no shortages of recipes so no shortages of excuses :)

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Exactly!! I know you share my feelings about 100 calorie packs…

      I love your healthy homemade treats (TLHB is always my first stop for making new recipes). Are you going to be posting a Vday dessert recipe this week? I’m meal planning for the weekend and was looking for one on TLHB! :)

      xo

      • Amy @ The Little Honey Bee

        You are the sweetest. Emailing you :)

  • 9tofit

    Homemade is totally the way to go! PS- happy I have my first Fit Tip Tuesday link up!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Yay! So excited you joined!! I love 9tofit, can’t wait to read your post today!!

      xo

  • http://fuelyourfuturewithtina.blogspot.com/ Tina Muir

    Great Post! Some very important points there! I am constantly trying to relay that message to my athletes and friends. People think that because I am an elite athlete that I am not allowed to eat sweet treats whatsoever, but I have one of the sweetest tooth(s) out there, and I end up putting on weight when I restrict. It is all about moderation, and all about making the right choices most of the time. You can still have a nice big slice of chocolate cake…..if you eat well 95% of the time and that is your special treat!

    Will share this with others!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Totally! There’s always room for enjoyment. I learned the hard way that as soon as I say to myself “nope. you can’t have that. you’re DIETING.” i find myself elbow deep in whatever that is like 5 minutes later (usually thats: oreos, pasta, pizza, cupcakes, cookies, aghhhh all so delcious!)

      People always assume athletes and dietitians can’t/don’t like those things, but in reality it’s all about managing it to fit within a healthy lifestyle. Getting a special treat isn’t just delicious, it’s necessary!

      Thanks so much for linking up and for sharing!!

      xo

  • Jessi Boehme

    Haha I know what you mean about burning it off! ;D I just gotta finish my post and link up, woohoo!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Yay! Thanks Jessi!! Love your post :)
      xo

  • Hillary

    Love #2!

    • http://www.theskinnyonhealth.com/ Lisa @ The Skinny on Health

      Thanks Hillary! So glad others believe it too!

      xo