Sugar Cravings After Weight-Loss Surgery

If you’ve had weight-loss surgery, you should have no more than 2 ½ teaspoons of sugar per meal. Try to avoid all processed foods, which often have “hidden” sugars added to them.

And the next time you’re craving sugar, try any of these things to combat it:

Choose natural sugars

Craving sweet? Have a piece of fruit, packed with natural sugars. That will satisfy your sweet tooth and fill you up with fiber and nutrients.

Don’t skip meals

Skipping meals leads to hunger, which leads to sharp sugar cravings. Eat regular meals to make sure your blood-sugar levels stay even.

Eat something bitter

The surest way to end a craving for a taste is to eat the opposite. Incorporating bitter-tasting foods into your diet can cause you to crave sugar less. Eat more dark leafy greens, such as arugula, dandelion greens and kale. Snack on crunchy celery and radishes throughout the day. Added bonus: Eating bitter foods can also freshen bad breath!

Give in to sugar cravings – a little

If you absolutely need to have sugar, it’s OK to give in … a little. Think very, very small: 2 chocolate chips or even just 1 or 2 M&Ms. You’ll be shocked by how little sweetness you need to get that sugar fix.

At the end of the day, everybody is different. It’s important for bariatric surgery patients to listen to their bodies and how they respond.