I will NEVER give up chocolate, it’s just not possible and what fun would life be without it? But I have learned how to keep my cravings under control. From one chocolate lover to another, you can still enjoy your treats and be healthy. I promise!

5 Dessert Rules I Live By

• I don’t usually eat store bought baked goods or candy (I won’t say I never cave & have a Reese’s Cup!). If I’m going to treat myself it’s with something homemade and totally worth it! Homemade chocolate chip cookies are my biggest weakness, anyone else?
• Don’t let the office treats get you! I worked 9-5 in an office for 7 years so I know people are always bringing in treats. Have healthy snacks on hand to help avoid the temptation. Yes, I was always that girl at work who said no to the treats and was always given a hard time about it. You will survive, I promise!
• I don’t deprive myself or else I will go crazy! If you tell me I can’t have something, I’ll want it. So if I truly am craving chocolate, I will have it. I try to keep it as healthy as possible with my go to chocolate and peanut butter treat. I take a piece of dark chocolate, melt it in the microwave, and add a spoonful of natural peanut butter for a delicious treat! Or, you can whip up a healthy dessert to enjoy. Ever heard of Chocolate Covered Katie? She is my cousin and has a TON of great healthy dessert recipes you can check out on her website.  
• Friday nights are ice cream nights! My husband and I came up with this to help each other. We pick out our favorite flavor of ice cream (I’m not talking about Halo, we get the real stuff) and make it a fun Friday night date night. It’s our end of the week treat and knowing we get to enjoy our ice cream motivates us to be good during the rest of the week. 
• I enjoy myself for special occasions like birthdays, holidays, weddings, etc. If there are multiple dessert choices, I pick one that I REALLY want and enjoy every bite. 

Overall, it’s just a balance! I believe in enjoying life and not depriving yourself of the things you love. You just have to decide where your limits and boundaries are depending on where you are in your fitness journey. Some need a strict set of rules and some (like me) need the freedom to decide what is and isn’t worth it. Find your balance and if you get off track, instead of staying mad at yourself just jump back on the wagon and keep working towards your goals!