Did you know that you can eat sweets on a diet and still lose weight? And that you don’t have to follow trends? Portion control is the key to healthy sweets. It is not necessary to give up carbohydrates, sugar, fat or whatever is the current villain in the diet world. Restrictive diets should be avoided unless prescribed by your doctor as they aren’t typically healthy for you. Your body needs carbohydrates, protein and fats. I speak from experience. I’ve lost and kept off over 110 pounds by eating sensibly, but am still able to enjoy that brownie recipe. The key is moderation of these macronutrients and eating the right amounts.

Today, many portions are gigantic sizes. For instance, 1/9th of a pan is offered on a plate in comparison to 1/24th bite sized piece you’d get in the late 50s or early 60s. Both are delicious and the exact same recipe, but one is not going to help your waistline. Below, there are three portions of brownies. The one on the left is from 2020, the one in the middle from 1980 and the one on the right is from 1960.

People love to blame things like sugar for the ultimate reason of weight gain, but it’s not really that simple. Sugar in high amounts isn’t an ideal diet and you should limit the quantity just as you would limit other things. But what it ultimately comes down to is you are eating too many calories. You want to burn the amount of calories that you eat each day to avoid weight gain. This is where portion control comes into play.

To become healthy, you do want to focus on getting fresh wholesome foods for the majority of your diet. Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and the like should be the focus. But that occasional chocolate chip cookie? Go ahead and indulge. Don’t feel guilty about it. Enjoy it knowing that you are eating sensible portions and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Food should be rejoiced, not hidden in shame.