CAN COOKIES BE A PART OF A HEALTHY DIET?

DISCLOSURE: This blog post is sponsored by Naked Nutrition. Products featured in this post were provided complimentary.  All opinions are my own.

Ever wondered if cookies can realistically be a part of a healthy and well-balanced diet? This blog post will discuss the role of sugar-sweetened foods in a healthy diet and offer strategies to help you scale back on sweets, including a review of Naked Nutrition’s new Protein Sugar Cookies.

If you are trying to pursue healthier eating habits, chances are you will evaluate your sweet tooth at some point along the way. And while it’s not necessary to totally “get rid” of your sweet tooth, aside from that being a rather unrealistic goal, there are some undeniable health benefits to reducing sweets in your diet. In fact, the National Institutes of Health shares that “several studies have found a direct link between excess sugar consumption and obesity and cardiovascular problems worldwide.”

What is considered "excess" sugar consumption?

The American Heart Association has a recommendation that can help you achieve better balance when it comes to sugar-sweetened foods and beverages in your diet. 

• Men: Aim for 36 grams or less of added sugar per day. 
• Women: Aim for 25 grams or less of added sugar per day.

The average American adult eats about 68 grams of added sugars, according to 2017–2018 CDC data! And these sugars aren’t coming from fruits, veggies, and dairy products – which all contain some sugars in them naturally. These super sweet selections are typically coming from food and/or beverage choices where sugar has been added during processing or preparation to give the product a more appealing taste. (Think sugar-sweetened beverages like sweet tea and coffee shop lattes, and desserts like donuts and ice cream.)

The good news is that you CAN take actionable steps to enjoy foods and beverages with added sugar in moderation! Here are a few ideas you can consider.

3 Simple Ways to Cut Back on Added Sugars

1. LOOK CLOSER AT FOOD & BEVERAGE LABELS. “Added sugars” are now specifically listed on new food labels - yay! - making it easy for us to identify if a food has sugar added to it, AND how much! Take this label for Naked Nutrition’s Protein Sugar Cookie (pictured below), for example – you can see that 1 cookie (one serving size) contains 3 grams of added sugar. (That’s less than 1 teaspoon!) We can compare this Protein Sugar Cookie to other available options and make a more informed choice.
2. SWEETEN UP OPTIONS YOURSELF. Since many sugar-sweetened foods and beverages are purchased already sweet, maybe try going for a plain variety, then adding in your own extra ingredients for taste and flavor. For example, instead of a presweetened strawberry yogurt, maybe buy the plain or vanilla option and then add in your own strawberry slices for sweetness. Even if you added an additional teaspoon of honey on top of that, that would only be 4 grams of added sugar. 
3. ENJOY SMALLER AMOUNTS OF SWEETS. This is my favorite go-to strategy with savory indulgences as well! When you take a moment to think about the way your food tastes as you eat it, it’s likely that the very first bite is the best, but the flavor of your food doesn’t keep getting better after that. Considering this, you might find success in savoring smaller portions of sugar-sweetened foods or beverages – whether you dole yourself out a smaller amount, purchase individual single servings or even share with someone else!

I want to take a moment to spotlight this new sugar cookie alternative that hits the mark on two of these suggestions I just mentioned – Naked Nutrition’s Protein Sugar Cookie! This protein cookie is low in added sugar, and has 10 grams of grass-fed whey protein. (A similar-sized commercially-prepared sugar cookie would contain more like 15 grams of added sugar!)

I love the convenience of this option for busy days, as well as the portability of taking this (not so) sweet treat with me on-the-go. The Protein Sugar Cookie has a gooey, “under-baked” texture and goes great with a cup of coffee! Head on over to Naked Nutrition to check out all their premium ingredient products, including these protein cookies, which actually come in three yummy flavors – classic sugar cookie, chocolate chip, and oatmeal raisin.

Here’s to having your sweets and eating them too!

xx

​Lindsey