We all have a sweet-tooth, even those of us who strive to eat better and fresher. But every now and then you just see that cookie and go for it. Why is that?
While our bodies do need the nutrients inherit in the “good stuff”- plants mostly- they have an inert craving for sweets, which are high in fat and sugar, because both of these ingredients give the body what it wants; energy.
Without the abundance of sweets we encounter today, sugar (like that which comes from fruit, called “fructose”) has an important role in the body as a quick supplier of fat and energy. It is useful in an environment where food and energy is scarce, but because it tastes so good we find ourselves bombarded by it everyday and instead of treating it as a supplement to our diet, sweets are more often a main part of it.
So how do you beat the sweet and stay eco-friendly?
Without the abundance of sweets we encounter today, sugar (like that which comes from fruit, called “fructose”) has an important role in the body as a quick supplier of fat and energy. It is useful in an environment where food and energy is scarce, but because it tastes so good we find ourselves bombarded by it everyday and instead of treating it as a supplement to our diet, sweets are more often a main part of it.
So how do you beat the sweet and stay eco-friendly?
Most of it is about simply limiting yourself. Portion control in a society with unlimited portions is a big step in eating better all around, but once you limit your sweet intake, you’re on the right track. For instance, try not to make an entire cake unless you have company or a party, where you know you won’t be the only one to eat it, or refrain from the candy bar in favor or a more natural source of sugar like the fruit we talked about before. It’ll satisfy your craving for sugar without ingesting all the processed fat.
But when you do need a fix, try to keep is earth-friendly. Chances are it’ll also be a little better for you. There are many vegan and eco-friendly recipes out there, from unique Organic Fig Almond Frangipani Tarts, to the comfortable territory of the Gingerbread Man.
While organic does not necessarily mean what you make will be better for you, chances are when you cook vegan treats they will contain less fat by the sheer fact that they are free of animal products. And hold out hope-vegan sweets will settle that tooth as well as any store-bought pastry.
But when you just need something a little more serious than a cookie, turn to organic candies. My favorite is Green and Black’s organic chocolate bars. They’re a little pricy, so they make chocolate a real treat. Besides being organic, Green and Black’s is also a fair trade company, working with farmers in Belize to produce all their cocoa bean stock.
Moderation is really key, but all this goes to show there are some better options out there for satisfying the sweet craving than reaching for the M&Ms.
I am an junior English major/ Philosophy minor at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Currently I am spending the spring of 2009 studying at the University College Cork in Cork, Ireland.
The Organic Fig Almond Tarts sound great. I find these very nice suggestions for those moments when I crave something sweet. Thanks!