Deprivation. Nasty little word, that. None of us like to feel deprived. If it feels like a deprivation, we will resist, and this is the reason diets don’t work. If we see clean eating as a punishment, we are far less likely to stick with it. Like many have said before, the only way to make long-term healthy choices is to make a lifestyle change. Make the choice to eat better because you feel better when you do it. And allow yourself treats. It may seem like a cliché, but there is so much truth in the old saying, “Everything in moderation”.
It’s only when we eat in moderation that any lifestyle change is sustainable. If there is no room for treats or “junk food” our healthiest intentions will backfire, causing us to give up and binge on everything we were previously denied. It’s the flip side of entitled. If we feel we’re owed something, we will resist being denied it. Take sugar, for instance. If, once we become accustomed to having it, our taste buds crave it, demand it. I know from personal experience, because I recently decided to drastically reduce my sugar intake.
The first and most significant step was to cut out honey in my tea. That much fructose (up to 6 cups per day) was not good for me. It wasn’t so hard for the first week or so, then I started feeling deprived and sugar-hungry! I began craving these bad boys, and eventually made a batch. Yes, they are calorific; dates are full of sugar and peanuts full of fat. But they are not empty calories. As well as sugar, you get a dose of dietary fibre, potassium and copper. The protein and good oils in the peanut butter also help to make you feel satisfied and full.
If I’m going to break out and enjoy a sweet treat, give me these raw cookies any day!
Raw Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
A healthy alternative to chocolate, these raw cookies are a real treat!
Makes 20
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
dash sea salt
½ cup raisins or sultanas
½ cup (6-8 depending on their size) pitted Medjool dates
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Method
Put oats and salt in food processor. Process until finely ground.
Add remaining ingredients and process until fully combined.
Add a few drops of water (up to 1 teaspoon) if needed to form balls.
Form into balls or press into a square pan and cut into squares. Refrigerate until firm.
Enjoy in moderation!
Notes
Recipe thanks to Triumph Wellness
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