How to Cheat Without Wrecking Your Diet

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Chocolate Choices

Chocolate Bar vs. Hot Cocoa

Best Bet: Cocoa
Hot chocolate made with nonfat milk and a tablespoon of sugar has 154 calories and 2 grams of fat per cup, saving you about 80 calories and 11 grams of (mostly saturated) fat compared with a milk chocolate bar -- and it's more satisfying, says Dr. Kulze. The heat forces you to sip slowly, so your brain has time to register the treat. Plus, drinking a milk-based beverage helps you eat less at your next meal, says Barbara Rolls, PhD, a professor of nutritional science at Pennsylvania State University.

Mallomars vs. Oreos

Best Bet: Oreos
You'd think that marshmallow would be lighter in calories than cream filling, but nope. The Oreo has 10 percent fewer calories per cookie (53 versus 60). If you snacked on three cookies a day and made this swap, you'd effortlessly drop two pounds in a year.

Brownie vs. Chocolate Cake

Best Bet: Cake
Even when frosted, a slice of chocolate cake has about half the calories of a large brownie (235 versus 454). If the brownie has nuts, its calorie count jumps to 519.

Next: Salt Cravings

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dbattle2929 wrote:

I always thought by eating unhealthy treats while on a diet was a horrible thing to do and I found myself feeling guilty for doing it. But as mentioned, by depriving myself I craved the unhealthy treats even more and I eventually diverted from the healthy path. I currently have been awaken by a new found motivation and readiness of my body, mind, and spirit. I'm going to incorporate this in to my goal.

5/9/2013 08:20:14 PM Report Abuse

Dawn005 wrote:

The whole point of the story is that if you constantly deprive yourself, eventually you will give up on healthy eating, whereas occasionally allowing yourself a treat could lead to being able to stick to those healthier choices longer-term. I am finding that it really works. I have lost over 70 lbs so far and still losing, and it's by allowing myself an occasional controlled treat that I still feel motivated. So any of these choices can be good choices in the long run.

4/9/2012 10:46:11 AM Report Abuse

jeanniewhite11 wrote:

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but none of these are "good" choices. Of course, depriving yourself all the time will not help you stick to a healthy lifestyle change. I tell my clients that if you want a piece of cake eat a small slice just don't eat the whole cake. If you want dessert out with friends, get one dessert and share it with yours friends.

1/8/2012 07:49:08 AM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

I feel any diet that limits you from cravings leads to binge eating. So allow myself great tasting snacks like YoCrunch candy yogurts. They have Oreos, Crunch Bar, m&ms, etc so any of those always help. www.yocrunch.com

10/14/2011 05:06:59 PM Report Abuse

christine1179 wrote:

Um, sorry to nitpick, but these foods are not "without" calories as you state in the lead-in to the story.

9/19/2011 05:18:54 PM Report Abuse