If you are a snacker, or if you’re close to one, you know how hard it can be to control the cravings. One way to wean yourself away from sugary snacks and sweet drinks is to swap in a healthier version—at least it’s a start! Here are some excellent suggestions.
Traditional chewing gum, may be loaded with potentially unhealthy or even carcinogenic ingredients like aspartame (artificial sweetener in sugar-free gum); BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), often used as a preservative; and “gum base,” a mysterious brew of many synthetic ingredients that potentially includes petroleum-derived paraffin wax or talc.
Try: Simply Gum, 100 percent natural, in six flavors: cinnamon, ginger, maple, coffee, fennel licorice and mint, simplygum.com; Glee Gum, non-GMO project verified and certified by Fair Trade International, gleegum.com.
Flavored waters can be infused with artificial sweeteners, sugars and preservatives. Instead, try adding fresh fruit like lemon, lime, cucumber or orange slices, or chunks of watermelon to your water. Or splash your sodium-free sparkling water with 100 percent fruit juice, which guarantees that no artificial dyes or color have been added.
Try: Suja Pressed Probiotic Waters, infused with organic fruits, vegetables and vegan probiotics, in four truly yummy flavors: Raspberry, Ginger/Lime, Pineapple/Lemon/Cayenne and Orange/Pineapple/Ginger, at 10 calories and 1 gram of sugar or less, sujajuice.com; Drink Maple, water taken directly from maple trees, drinkmaple.com