So you can stop them before you get to this point. Photo / Getty Images
So you can stop them before you get to this point. Photo / Getty Images
For those with an unrelenting sweet tooth, here's a plan to keep the craving at bay all day long.
Broken down by the hour, this ultimate guide advises what to snack on between meals and even has some tricks to stave off a hankering for some chocolate, reported the Daily Mail.
So those looking to ditch the sweets in time for beach season or just want to eat healthier, these tips are the perfect way to start.
Breakfast: 7am-10am
In the morning, choose foods with high fiber, protein or fat. This will keep you fueled up for the day ahead.
As if we needed another excuse to have avocado on toast for breakfast. Photo / Getty Images
These breakfast choices include avocados, oatmeal, eggs and smoked salmon.
Still hungry? Before reaching for that extra piece of toast, try drinking a glass of water and examine if the hunger is still there.
For snacks before lunch and throughout the day, try fresh and dried fruits and peanut butter.
Snacks: 10am - 12.30pm
Nutritionist Cassandra Barns adds: "When choosing your between-meal nibbles, remember that they should be based on the same principles and contain protein, healthy fats and/or unrefined carbohydrates."
"Stick to a maximum of two pieces of fruit a day and avoid bananas and grapes, which are the highest in sugar; but berries can be eaten more freely as they are low in sugar."
"It is helpful to keep some of these healthy snacks at work to stop you reaching for sugary foods when you feel hungry or low in energy."
Try peanut butter on apple for a delicious and nutritious snack. Photo / Getty Images
Right before lunch, around 12:30pm, taking a pill may help cut back on sugar cravings later in the day.
Barns said: "We know that despite following a healthy diet, some of us still crave sugary foods and find it extremely hard to avoid temptation - this is understandable."
"The good news is that supplements can provide extra support. One of the first ones to try is the mineral chromium."
"Although we only need it in tiny amounts, this trace mineral has a vital role in supporting normal blood glucose levels, and therefore helping to prevent the dips that cause us to crave sugary foods."
Lunch: 1pm-3pm
Mid-day meals are larger than breakfast and should be loaded with protein and vitamins such as oily fish, mushrooms and tofu, all which point to lowering cravings.
Barns also encourages people to drink loads of water, which is essential for health.
She said: "We should be aiming for two litres of water per day. Herbal teas count towards this however caffeinated drinks, fruit juice and fizzy drinks do not."
"Keeping hydrated is important for many processes in the body, including brain function. When we are dehydrated we often get headaches and feel tired."
Exercising gives off endorphins that triggers a positive, happy feeling through the body, similar to that of morphine.
Barns said: "Moderate exercise helps us to feel energized, less sluggish, and healthier. It can help to control stress levels and also support blood sugar control to avoid dips that will induce cravings."
Workouts don't have to be an intensive training session at the gym, just a light walk will do the trick, Barns said.
Dinner: 7pm-9pm
Around 7pm is the perfect time to sit down to the last meal of the day. Meals should be rich in protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. Lean meat - chicken and turkey - are top contenders for the main entree.
Be wary of too much salt as it will create an imbalance in your stomach and crave something sweet to round it out.
Lean chicken, healthy fat containing avocado and magnesium-rich leafy greens create a balanced dinner. Photo / Getty Images
Barns said to try to work in magnesium, like leafy greens, into dinner because it is known as "nature's tranquilizer" and has a calming relaxing effect on the body.
She added: "It is particularly helpful if your sleep is being disturbed by cramps, as it is a muscle relaxant."
Soon after eating, brush your teeth. The mint will brush away all desires for a late-night snack due to the clean flavor.
Late evening: 9pm-11pm
As the day winds down, take a relaxing bath with essential oils to unwind. Boredom leads to snacking which may mean reaching for a box of cookies in the late hours of the night.
