Most people associate a hangover with a night of imbibing on one-too-many alcoholic drinks, but there just so happens to be another nemesis of the candied variety that can knock you on your feet after over-consuming.
Yep, that sugar-coated stuff isn't as sweet as it's cracked up to be, and that's not just because it'll land you a spot in the dentist's chair. Too many sugary treats usually leads to crashing a few short hours later, making it much harder to find the energy to fit in a good workout, run around with your kids or even focus at work. But, these are just short-term negatives, eventually your waist may start expanding, and it could even lead to type II diabetes down the road.
Give a few of these healthy alternatives a try to tame your sweet tooth without all of that extra white stuff.
- Fruit Cake. Take two slices of whole wheat bread or sandwich thins and top both sides with peanut butter or almond nut butter. Next, place strawberries, bananas or blueberries onto one slice and top with a layer of cinnamon. Top off your fruity fare with the other slice of bread and enjoy. Or, if you're in the mood for Mexican cuisine, swap the bread for a whole wheat tortilla.
- Apple Sandwich. Core an apple and then cut into half-inch slices (Cut so each slice looks like a thin bagel with a hole in the middle). Next, take one slice and top with peanut butter, dark chocolate chips, granola and cinnamon. Then, use another peanut butter-topped slice as your sandwich lid. Repeat this process with the left over pieces of apple. This treat may not be the same as grandma's apple pie, but it's sure to appease your inner sugar-loving menace.
Peanut Butter and Honey Banana Blondies. Starting to notice the recurring, protein-packed ingredient? What can I say? This sista loves her some PB. Anyways, I found this recipe at Healthy Food For Living and it would be just plain selfish not to share. This concoction takes a bit more prep work. And, while it does call for sugar, this delicacy holds nutritional value. Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 Tbsp canola oil
- 2 Tbsp Sucanat or lightly packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup mashed overripe banana (about 3 medium bananas with almost-black peels)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup peanut flour (if you cannot find this, sub in an extra 1/2 cup of whole wheat pastry flour)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter chips
- 1/4 cup all-natural peanut butter
Directions:
- Preheat over to 350 degrees fahrenheit
- Lightly coat an 8 x 8 inch square pan with canola oil cooking spray. Line the pan with wax paper so the ends hang over the edges of the pan. Lightly coat the wax paper with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, beat together the applesauce through mashed banana with an electric mixer until well combined. Beat in the egg, followed by the vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together both types of flour baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, and stir with a rubber spatula or spoon just until moistened. Fold in peanut butter chips.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Drop peanut butter by the teaspoonful on top of the batter, leaving room between each spoonful. You can either leave as is, or drag a butter knife through the peanut butter and batter to create a marbled effect.
- Bake blondies until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean (about 25 - 28 minutes).
- Allow blondies to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove by picking up the ends of the parchment paper.
- Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into bars.
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