Those of you who work at maintaining a healthy weight... what’s your dessert policy?

[Anonymous]

I follow the 90/10 role most of the time (some days it is 80/20). 90 percent of the time I eat whole, healthy foods, and 10 percent can be treats.

I like a nightly dessert, and I try to keep it to 100-150 calories or so. I don't drink alcohol, so don't need to factor that in. I do splurge on special desserts every few weeks, maybe once a month? Like on birthdays, mother's day, a special date night etc.

[Anonymous]

Wine. That is my dessert policy.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a policy. Generally, I avoid sweets and try to buy things that my kid likes that I don't like. If I make something I really like (my daughter begged for brownies last week) I have a small portion or I plan to eat a lighter meal than usual so I can indulge.

[Anonymous]

I know that I can't restrict myself or it ends badly. What has worked for the last couple years has been only eating desserts that I love. I no longer buy cookies, ice cream, etc at the store. I'll get things like single serve cakes at my favorite local bakery or my favorites at restaurants. If someone in the house bakes something, I'll partake if I love it. The other thing that helps me is to give myself permission to try anything. If I take a bite or two and it's good, but nothing special I won't eat anymore. Something about knowing that I'm not telling myself no to desserts or saying 1 a week works well.

[Anonymous]

I eat something sweet pretty much every day. Once I stopped overly restricting myself I became much better at moderating sweets.

[Anonymous]

I'm also a daily dessert person, but portion control is key. For me, I use a small kid's bowl for ice cream every night.

[Anonymous]

I eat whatever I want whenever I want it. I eat sweet things (cookies, cakes,...) every day. I’m in great shape. I exercise. No foods are off limits. I’m too active to worry about calories.

[Anonymous]

I almost never eat dessert. I don’t even think about it.

[Anonymous]

Dessert does not have to be unhealthy. I have a sweet tooth and we eat dessert every night. It consists of either fresh fruit or a sorbet made in the vitamix (usually almond milk and frozen fruit). We rarely eat junk food desserts (commercially baked cakes, cookies, dairy ice cream, etc.). Just at restaurants or special occasions.

[Anonymous]

Small stuff. I never eat a big dessert, just feels gross. But those Trader Joe’s mini Hold the Cones are delicious and like 70 calories. Or I’ll do a couple pieces of chocolate or a small dish of whipped cream with some crumbled mini cookies or chocolate chips on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daily, have sweet tooth, smaller portion, includes higher calories treat like pastries. Yes, cut back on the regular food to compensate as in trying to stay close to my daily calories target

+1. I eat whatever I want but keep track of my calories. This is the only thing that works for me.

[Anonymous]

My policy is rarely. An occasional cookie but no dessert. I’ve just forced myself over time to say no. I see cheesecake and think, not worth an hour on the bike.

Generally balanced in other things but a red line through dessert has been helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wine. That is my dessert policy.

Pretty much this. My tastebuds changed and I will take some wine and charcuterie and cheese over desert any day. I probably eat a "sweet" 2-3x a year.

[Anonymous]

I have a serious sweet tooth, so I indulge it almost daily, but it is something small like 4 Hershey's kisses.

[Anonymous]

We do not have dessert regularly...but when we do I indulge. Maybe 1 time per month.