Everyone wants to treat themselves, and we all have our vices. But most people also want to make sure that they eat and live more healthily, which means cutting down on a lot of what we enjoy.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

If you are trying to make changes in your life and your diet, you might struggle with this. Here are some tips to help you to have your cake and eat it too, both metaphorically and literally.

A Lifestyle Change, Not a Diet
One huge mistake that a lot of people make is that they go on diets that promise quick results. You can lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time on some of these diets, especially if you cut out huge amounts of food.

However, this kind of weight loss isn’t healthy or sustainable. Ideally, you should change your diet with the goal to be more healthy, not just lose weight. But rapid weight loss puts stress on your body. Not only that, but it’s often temporary.

A common result of rapid weight loss diets is that, while you lose weight quickly, it doesn’t take much time to put it back on again. These diets can be incredibly restrictive, meaning that once it’s over, you fall back into old eating habits, and then some. Some people even gain more weight than they lost.

The idea should be to change how you eat, not just what you eat. Everyone has different eating habits, some more healthy than others. By focusing on how you see food, you can make changes. This, especially when paired with increased exercise, will make it more viable for you to not only lose weight, but to live a healthier lifestyle.

Switching Food Choices
We can be our own worst enemies, especially when it comes to food. But there are some relatively simple ways to switch to a more nutritious diet. Rather than concentrating on restriction and cutting things out entirely, why not switch some of your food choices for healthier options?

If you’re a chronic snacker, for example, switch out the chips for something that will fill you up and provide more benefits. Fruit is a great option, but you can also find some snack alternatives that will provide the savory crunch that you’re craving, but without the saturated fats or unhealthy helping of salt.

Think of things like chips, cake, and other junk food as treats, rather than an ordinary part of your diet. Rather than restricting yourself, you’re treating yourself.

Dealing With Food Restrictions
Some people have food restrictions that can make some treats impossible to enjoy. Rather than cutting them out entirely, or worse, eating them anyway and facing the consequences, why not make or find alternatives that you can eat safely?

For example, this gluten free Brooklyn Blackout Cake recipe is exactly as decadent and enjoyable as you’d hope for, but it’s also more accessible for people who can’t eat gluten. This means that you enjoy a treat without any risks