Three Tip Tuesday- Sweet Tooth

Oh boy. It is Tuesday. Spin Tuesday. I must enjoy a little bit of torture in my life to be heading back again after the grueling class last week.

Hopefully today’s class seems easier. Or at least bearable.

Yesterday I ran five miles in the morning before it got too hot.

Since I don’t need to think about my feet these days while running, I had time to think a little bit more about the thoughtful gifts I have received over the years.

Without question, there are two gifts that stand out in my mind and were both given to me for my 22nd birthday.

I had a MAJOR sweet tooth back then (shocker, I know) and the important people in my life knew this. And respected it.

My friend Robyn and I still discuss the gift she got me often. I don’t have a picture of the present but I do have a picture of us from her wedding if that counts for anything.

So anyway, the gift she got for me was a basket containing 20 little Hello Kitty baggies each filled with a different kind of candy.

The bags might have looked like this.

I recall sour patch kids, swedish fish, m&m’s, skittles…you name it, it was there.

All hand-picked candies that she knew I would love. It was so pretty and so sweet that I recall not wanting to eat it.

That same year I received a gorgeous diamond bracelet. What girl doesn’t love jewelry?

As much as I loved the bracelet, and I am sure it cost a pretty penny, the best part of that gift involved an unexpected delivery of several pounds of my favorite m&m’s.

I was on a serious m&m kick back then. And I mean serious.

I still recall the surprise delivery of the m&m’s because someone took the time to realize what I loved and bring them to me when I least expected it.

I don’t eat m&ms like I used to, in fact, my obsession with those little round candy coated chocolates slowly disappeared over the years.

The only thing I like these days about m&ms are the two m’s on the candy shell.

Anyway, candy gets a bad rap in general and now with all the hoopla surrounding artificial colors and ingredients, it is even worse.

But what fun would the world be without candy?

There are ways to still satisfy your sweet tooth and not feel guilty about what is in your treat of choice.

THREE TIPS FOR INDULGING YOUR SWEET TOOTH IN A HEALTHIER WAY:

1 – GET UNREAL

If you aren’t familiar with the company, UNREAL,  you must check them out. They are a candy company devoted to “unjunking” our favorite candies.

From their website:

Own up to your candy. Here’s the UNREAL^® thing. We’re on a tear to unjunk the world, starting with your favorite candies. If you like Snickers^®, Reese’s^®, M&M’s^®, Peanut M&M’s^®, or Milky Way^®, discover theunjunking-believable taste of candy made from all real stuff. Real chocolate, real caramel, real nougat, real peanut butter, real cane sugar. No artificials, no hydrogenateds, no corn syrup, no chemicals, no GMOs, no sugar overload.

I received a bag of the UNREAL version of m&m’s in my swag bag from last month’s Meet and Tweet.

They were amazing! The little boy even thought they were better than the real thing. Click here for a link to the UNREAL website to learn more and to locate a retailer near you.

2- TRADER JOE’S

Once again, Trader Joe to the rescue.

Trader Joe’s carries an extremely wide variety of chocolates and candies that are made without artificial ingredients and preservatives.

While I am not saying these treats are in any way low-calorie, they are at least made better than the conventional brands.

3- CHOCOLATE COVERED KATIE:

I know I often mention Katie, but if you aren’t familiar with her, she is an amazing blogger who creates healthy, often low-calorie, delicious desserts.

You must check out her blog for recipes that include cupcakes, chocolates, cakes, muffins, brownies, cookies, pies, ice cream, waffles, pancakes, oatmeal….click here for the link to her site.

OK now I am totally craving chocolate. Have a great Tuesday!

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I need to know:

What is your favorite candy?

Do you prefer sugary candy or chocolate?

Have you ever made any of Katie’s recipes? I have and they are all delicious!

Look to the Cookie

Wishing all of my reader friends and their families a very Happy Easter!

If you are still hunting for the perfect Easter dessert recipe rather than out hunting for Easter eggs,   I encourage you to check out Chocolate Covered Katie’s blog.

The boy and I LOVE her recipes as they are not only delicious but healthy too!

She recently posted 15 great Easter dessert recipes, including one for a healthy version of the Cadbury Creme Egg.

Say no more, right?

Click here for the link to her recipe post.

Even if you don’t celebrate Easter, her site is so worth checking out.

Seinfeld had it right, dessert unites us all.

Of course I have not forgotten my Kosher for Passover friends…today is a perfect day for making yourself a mean Matzoh Brei.

If you missed my post with the recipe, click here.

If you are tired of Matzoh (which I know you probably are), may I recommend you simply do the following:

         

Take a leftover chocolate covered macaroon and mash it into a container of yogurt and call it the perfect Sunday morning breakfast treat! Throw in some berries and you have quite a balanced meal.

Enjoy your holiday!