A Spoonful of Sugar

After watching health fitness guru Brett Caps’ video, “How to handle your Cravings”, I was inspired to blog about the harmful effects of sugar. I will be the first to admit that I have a sugar addiction, but my question is how did this begin? I rarely had candy as a kid and never cared for chocolate… until recently. I realized once I started eating chocolate, I loved it and could probably eat it everyday. Here’s why the more you eat it the more you need it. You become addicted to the cycle of sugar.

Processed sugar has a number of harming effects.   

• Suppresses the immune system
• Contributes to weight gain and obesity
• Increases the risk of fatty liver disease
• Causes headaches, including migraines
• Causes tooth decay
• Raises harmful cholesterol
• Contributes to diabetes

According to Dr. Oz, cravings are driven by your mind and not necessarily by hunger. This means that you do not need to fulfill them. Conversely, if you distract yourself long enough, the cravings will pass. If your body is craving sugar, perhaps it may be a cue for the body needing energy. Fruit is a healthy alternative and leaves your body satisfied.

For some other suggestions, I recommend the previously mentioned Healthy CookieDough Bits, which are made without processed sugar. In addition, I would also suggest my friend’s new recipe for her Quinoa Granola Bars. Recently, I have been snacking on yogurt-covered strawberries that can be easily made with this 3-step recipe.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Apple Nachos

As I am sure I have mentioned before, I have an uncontrollable urge to snack. Something I have on a regular basis is apple slices with peanut butter so I thought why not expand that? With all of that in mind, this week I made apple nachos! Apples are an excellent source of fiber and also contain antioxidants that carry many health benefits.

What I love most about this recipe is combining fresh fruit and ingredients with a little creativity can turn into a simple, yet incredibly delicious healthy snack. The best part of apple nachos is your imagination. You can use any ingredients to create the perfect toppings in order for this to be your favourite snack. Instead of using apples, you could also use pears or bananas. The recipe I made consists of natural sugar, which makes this a perfect sweet cheat that you can have more than once a week!

A tip I used for keeping fruits such as apples and bananas from turning brown in colour once cut is simply tossing them in lemon juice. Brown fruit is not appealing especially to kids so this little secret helps keep your fruit looking fresh.

Fruit nachos are a perfect a late night snack or after school snack for kids. I hope you all try this simple snack and let me know the alterations you have made!

Those of you similar to myself, here are some tips from Brett to help with your cravings. Enjoy!

Here is my recipe.

How do you like them Apples?

Apple Crisp - Before and After

To start off my blog, I wanted to incorporate something that my mom has always made and something that I absolutely love – Apple Crisp.  Someone once shared this recipe with her, and now I would love to do the same with you. This recipe is a tasty dessert that she has made for years and it’s a perfect sweet cheat that includes fruit! My mother started this dessert by simply cooking apples, and it is now a family favourite. This recipe is also perfect if your apples are going bad, or if you are like my family and have a bushel of apples and unsure of how to use them all up!  

You can also substitute apples for pears, and for additional flavor, including fresh cranberries makes this extra sweet and original. You can serve the apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or add a dollop of whip cream. However, if you are watching your desserts, apple crisp is an awesome alternative to get a daily serving of fruit, and you can always skip the ice cream or use non-fat.  The reason why I enjoy this dessert is because I love fruit and the taste of cinnamon. If you are an apple lover, try this recipe and I would love your feedback.

I hope you all enjoy this apple crisp sweet cheat as much as I do. And remember, it is always nice to treat yourself once a week.

Recipe