It's best to take a balanced approach.
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| | | Stop me if this sounds familiar: You're barely done chewing your last bite of lunch when an unseen force guides you from the chair to the pantry to find something sweet to top off the meal. In fact, this very scene is a common sight in my house. Usually, I opt for a date or a few chocolate chips, maybe even a small bowl of granola and milk. | | If you're trying to eat a balanced diet, these sweet cravings may feel frustrating. Below, Kirsten Seele, a registered dietitian at Healthline, shares sustainable management tips. | | | | | | | You got this!
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |  | | Written by Ginger Wojcik
April 1, 2025 • 3.5 min read | | | | | |  | | | | Q: | Why do I crave something sweet after every meal? | | | A: | The first thing I did when I saw this question was text my mom. I could hear her saying "I need a bite of sweet!" — a phrase she often says after we finish a meal together. From my experience as a dietitian and wellness coach, this is something that many people experience.
I'm a true believer that our childhood habits have a huge impact on our adult nutrition habits. One thing I've noticed is that people who crave sweets after meals often grew up in households where they had nightly desserts as a family. A quick Google search tells me that in the 1980s especially, it was common to eat a sweet treat after dinner. (This practice has steadily decreased since then.)
But habits are easy to form and can be hard to break. If you're hoping to break out of the everyday habit of eating something sweet after every meal, try waiting at least 5 minutes before you reach for the sweets. This gives your brain time to register that you're full. The craving might also go away.
During this intentional pause, distract yourself from sweets by doing something else. This could be reading, doing chores, or playing with your pet — anything that helps you feel happy, calm, and comfortable.
You can also try any of these management strategies to curb cravings: - Opt for a nutrient-dense treat like fruit, which contains fiber. Not only does fiber help fill you up, preventing further cravings, but it also helps your body absorb the sugar more slowly, which can decrease blood sugar spikes.
- Eat a smaller portion of your favorite dessert. You may find that one or two bites can satisfy your craving! Remember: A balanced diet can still include the occasional low-nutrient food, like sugary treats.
- Follow my mom's trick: one single Tootsie Roll (or your favorite small candy) after a meal.
Lastly, eating enough nutrient-rich foods — lean proteins, fruits, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats — throughout the day can help you feel full and satisfied, which can cut down on cravings. | | | | | Kirsten Seele, Registered Dietitian | | | Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.) | | | Sponsored by | |  | | | | | Healthcare from home | | | | |  | | LifeMD | With LifeMD, you have quick and easy access to healthcare experts and prescription drugs (many of which are discounted) at your fingertips. The medications LifeMD offers include GLP-1 agonists, which may support healthy weight management.
There's no need to schedule an in-person appointment — you can do it all online — or show proof of insurance to get GLP-1 medications prescribed and rushed to you. Take LifeMD's quiz below to see whether this treatment option is right for you. | | | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Now's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | What we're digesting | | 😟 Why do I get constipation pain? Plus, tips to try to ease the discomfort. | | 🧑🦯 What causes blindness? Vision loss can happen to anyone at any age. | | 🙊 We tried it: My 5-night experiment with mouth taping. This technique may not be suitable for everyone, BTW. | | 🍠 Food combinations for weight loss. Do they work? | | | | | How did you feel about this newsletter? | | | | | Email nutritionedition@healthline.com with comments related to this newsletter or topics you'd like to see in future editions. The newsletter editors read every message that lands in our inbox — yes, really! We look forward to hearing from you. | | | | Until next time, |  | Take care of yourself, and we'll see
you again soon! | | | | |  | | This edition was powered by | | dates and peanut butter.️ | | | | |
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