Question of the Week: Fighting the Nightly Sweet Tooth"

The following question was submitted for discussion on this week's blog post: "I have a sweet tooth at night.  I like to reward myself after a hard day at work with a bowl of ice cream before bed.  Is this ok to do since I now have diabetes? "

It is not uncommon to crave something sweet in the evenings or wanting to reward one's self at the end of a hard day with a sweet treat.   Doing this from time to time,  in small portions (1/2 Cup), while watching the rest of your daily intake, and while incorporating exercise (30 minutes minimum) into your daily routine should not be an issue.  Treats such as these are best for special occasions such as social gatherings.

If you choose ice cream as a treat, there are many types available that are low fat (sometimes marketed as "slow churned"), low calorie (such as Weight Watchers or Skinny Cow), and there are no-sugar added varieties frozen treats available.  There are also many very delicious varieties of frozen yogurt available that are a healthier alternative to full-fat ice cream.  Keep in  mind that despite the fact that these aforementioned alternatives are healthier choices, you still need to adhere to the 1/2 Cup portion guideline.

Avoid high calorie/fat/sugar toppings for your frozen dessert.  Whipped Cream, syrups, sauces, and sprinkles will add more calories, fat, and carbohydrates without any nutritional value.