Blog Post Title Two: Get Your Treat On

The attitude around treats is constantly changing. But so have the times, our lifestyles, the world around us…

Used to be you had three square meals a day and those special treats were dessert after dinner. One parent worked, one stayed home and took care of the home and cooking. Schedules were pretty set - you eat breakfast, go to work or school, come home within a couple hours of one another and dinner was ready by the time the working parent walked in the door. Then, everyone enjoyed a sweet treat at the end of a long day.

And of course there were the special occasions like parties and holidays to enjoy special treats one usually only got during those special times.

But things have changed drastically.

The 9-5 is but a pipe dream for most. Single parent working homes are becoming more and more rare as the price of literally everything is skyrocketing, and we’re almost always on the move for one reason or another - so snacking and treats have started to take the place of meals for a lot of people. Which is fine! Changing with the times helps reduce stress and keep us flexible for the changes of the future.

And treats can absolutely be an integral component in reducing our stress and giving us moments of joy in the hectic world we live in.

But there’s still limits for each individual, so what are yours?

Well, treats are not a bad thing, let’s start with that. But when you are working on goals for your body, when and what kind of treats you consume can be either a help or a hinderance. For example, you love Reese’s cups? Cause I do! But should I eat a package of Reese’s cups - the two pack - every day? Well, no. It’s not good for me. For one, I’m trying to gain more muscle and lose fat, so a candy bar a day would actually be a detriment to this goal. But would it be okay to have a pack of Reese’s 1 - 2 times a week, so long as I log it with my calorie deficit? Sure! Absolutely! And frequent treats - within reason - will actually help curb over indulgence.

Have you ever tried cutting out something you absolutely love? Think about how hard that was. And what ended up happening? Are you still going strong without it? Or did you go hog wild when you couldn’t take it anymore and end up falling completely off the wagon? Well, the occasional indulgence helps make sure that doesn’t happen. This is assuming, of course, that you don’t have an underlying eating disorder or mental health struggle that needs addressed as these can absolutely effect your eating habits!

Okay, so treats are a go - but what to have? Well, let’s be reasonable. Should you have a massive slice of cake every other day? Probably not. I’m thinking a slice the size you get at Cheesecake Factory or a really nice bakery - they are chock full of sugar and calories, sometimes equivalent to your daily allotment! But you could have maybe that slice of cake once a week and feed your cravings with smaller treats throughout the rest of the week. The strategy? Spread it around. When you spread your treat calories throughout a length of time, your body can easier process the aftermath, meaning you won’t be endangering your goals and your confidence!

Personally, I’m a huge fan of cheat days. Now yes, you’re not supposed to cheat the entire day, but it’s a great motivation to ring in your indulgence through the week. Need a little chocolate every day? That’s fine! Luckily, there are small squares of chocolate pre-packaged to feed the need. But cheat day is the day to eat that entire slice of cake, or have that large chocolate shake or ice cream sundae. Whatever your desire, cheat days are the day to look forward to and indulge!

So treats? Yes! Every day? Eh, depends on these factors:

- Size (a square of dark chocolate? Sure! An entire candy bar every night? Eh, probably not)

- Frequency (usually a couple bigger treats a week won’t hurt you)

- Quality (aim for treats made from whole foods like dark chocolate or fruit and nuts. Save the ultra processed stuff for that cheat day!)

Treats are a necessity, just make sure they fit into your personal goal necessities as well! Happy treating and thanks for reading!