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Maintaining a flat stomach while satisfying our sweet tooth can seem like an impossible task. After all, we all know that eating too much candy and deviously delicious pastries can take a serious toll on your health. But luckily, there are great options out there that can keep your taste buds happy and help you feel confident in your beach body all summer long—including one high-fiber fruit.
On our quest to find some of the healthiest sweet snacks out there, we spoke to Mackenzie Burgess, registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices. She told us that dates make a fantastic choice—and even pointed us towards some delicious date truffles for those who love a bit of chocolate. Learn more about the benefits of this equal parts tasty and healthy treat below!
Medjool Dates
Next time you're craving something sweet, put the Snickers bar down! Fruit is called "nature's candy" for a good reason. And when it comes to the best options out there, you can't go wrong with some gut-healthy, nutritious, and absolutely delicious Medjool dates.
These small, succulent fruits offer a delectable taste while simultaneously supporting your pursuit of a slimmer waistline and flat belly for the summertime. Packed with essential nutrients and boasting a plethora of health benefits, dates have emerged as a guilt-free sweet treat that can be enjoyed daily.
Dates aren't only tasty, but they're also high in dietary fiber and low in fat, making them the perfect weight loss snack. High-fiber snacks are especially great because fiber plays a vital role in promoting healthy digestion and preventing bloating. A well-regulated digestive system ensures that excess waste and toxins are efficiently eliminated, which helps keep your tummy flat and bikini-ready. Plus, fiber promotes satiety. "Eating enough fiber can help you feel fuller longer, which may lead to less overall calories consumed throughout the day," Burgess tells us.
In addition to all that fiber, dates offer up a range of other nutrients, such as vitamin B6, magnesium, and manganese, all of which can support an efficient metabolism and allow your body to thrive to its full potential in order to support weight management. Plus, when you're well-nourished, you can take on all those fat-blasting workouts that will help you reach the body of your dreams.
And best of all, unlike processed sugary treats, dates contain natural sugars that are easily digested and provide a sustainable source of energy (unlike artificial sweeteners), reducing the likelihood of cravings for unhealthy snacks that can sabotage our efforts.
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Try date truffles
If you want a bit of an extra sweetness (and especially if you love dark chocolate—which does offer up a ton of health benefits, by the way!), Burgess recommends going with some date truffles like Natural Delights Dark Chocolate Truffles.
"These truffles are filled with Medjool dates,” she says. "To further this satiety effect, consider pairing with a protein like a handful of almonds or a yogurt cup. These truffles also have added probiotics, which some research shows may help support weight management as well." Sign us up!
The bottom line
So, there you have it: While it's important to limit your intake of sugary processed foods in order to lose weight, you don't have to give up sweet treats altogether. Although it's always important to remember to practice moderation while snacking, reaching for some dates (or even date truffles) is one great way to satisfy your cravings without putting your weight loss goals at risk.
