Okay, okay, since you won’t stop flooding my posts with comments about my cake dilemma, I present you with evidence of its (perhaps inevitable?) conclusion.

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Oh, and before the two of you that can’t stand unsubstantiated claims go combing through my posts looking for all of these supposed comments…I made that up. I have been wrestling with the cake demon all on my lonesome (other than a few *helpful* Facebook suggestions to “just eat it already!”). 

But here’s the best part.  After stomping on my baking urge for two whole days, it occurred to me that my beloved boy-munchkins were coming home on Saturday, and to prove my undying Mama-love, I owed it to myself them to bake up something extra-special scrumptious. That’s the scrumptious right there in that ridiculously cute little cake-keeper (Goodwill – $1.99, by the way).

I also went to the Dollar Store and loaded up those gift-bags with goodies, which leads me to a fun (read: worrisome) side story: my 5-year-old was the one who had to inform me that the huge rubber “beatle” that I thought I’d bought him was actually—wait for it—a cockroach.  Yes, that’s right, folks.  I bought my firstborn an enormous, disgustingly realistic facsimile of my bug arch-nemesis as a welcome home present…and he loves it!  I, on the other hand, might need therapy.

So, what does all this have to do with Move-it Monday? 

Well, after tantalizing you both today and last week with images of highly caloric goodness first thing on Monday morning, I thought I might follow it up with a confession:

I have a MAJOR sweet tooth and eat at least one dessert-ish thing pretty much every single day, but I am not one of those people who can down a Snickers + a cheesecake chaser and not gain weight. (Don’t bother telling us if you are one of those type; we don’t want to know).

So, today, I thought I’d share with you a list of my 5 favorite treats that I can actually eat on a regular basis without feeling the need to hit the pavement running right after (it’s waaaay too hot for that, y’all):

1. Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches

I’ve never quite understood the appeal of the name (that may just be because I’ve nursed babies for a good portion of the last 5 years and don’t need to feel any more bovine—skinny or not—than I already do) or how something so wonderful and surprisingly filling could only set me back 140 calories, but the truth is, I don’t really want to know.  Just keep the icy-cold, creamy deliciousness coming, and I won’t ask a thing.

2. Stretch Island Fruit Leather

At only 45 calories each, these rectangles of tangy, chewy awesomeness are just the thing I need to help me head off a major sugar-bender (my fave is Orchard Cherry).

3. Red White and Blue Mini-Cheesecakes

They’re ultra-tasty, uber-easy to make, and will make you feel patriotic the year-round.  Oh, and at only 165 calories each, you can knock a couple of these cuties back, no extra treadmill miles required. Recipe here.

4.  Braum’s English Toffee Light Ice Cream in a Sugar Cone (say that fivetimesfast!)

I’m not a big fan of diet food, preferring to eat smaller portions of the “real thing,” but I’ve had both the full-fat and the “cheater” version of Braum’s English Toffee, and, honestly, I prefer the light. And with a 50-calorie cone (I find mine at Brookshire’s), you get to blast the soft, crunchy, and cold cravings all at once for a whopping 200 calories (tops) and 6 grams of fat. Win, win, and…WIN!

5. Home-made Popsicles

Downing an 8-oz glass of real fruit juice may not do much to quell a craving, and it could set you back anywhere from 110 cals (orange/apple) to 160 cals (grape) in practically one big gulp. But pour it in an ice-cube tray, plunk in a few toothpicks, and, an hour later, you can enjoy TEN frozen treats for the caloric price of one 8-oz glass, and you’ll have sunk your teeth into one of your daily recommended servings of fruit. Holla!

RUNNERS-UP:

Watermelon – 50 cals/cup

Skinny Cow Fat-Free Chocolate Milk (I promise they’re not paying me to shill for them) – 150 cals + 0 fat grams/8 oz. glass

Peanut Butter Apple – 1 medium Gala + 1 TBSP of PB = 200 cals/8 grams of  fat (mostly the good kind)

Real Fruit Smoothie – 1 medium banana (100 cals) + 1/2 cup of Braum’s Strawberry/Banana Fro-Yo (100 cals) + 4 oz. of apple juice (55 cals) + 1 cup frozen strawberries (50 cals) = 305 cals.

Trident Layers Green Apple and Golden Pineapple Sugar-Free Gum – 5 cals/piece

What about you?

What’s your go-to fix when you must pacify the sugar-monster without breaking your calorie bank?

Oh, and if you must know the recipe for that sinfully fantastic chocolate cake I made, you can find it here. I made mine a layer-cake with homemade strawberry jam spread between the layers and cream-cheese icing. ‘Scuse me while I wipe the drool off my chin.

P.S. Last chance to enter the headband giveaway. Comments close tonight @ midnight!

4 Comments

  1. Thanks for the suggestions, Kelley! The key-lime sounds yummy! And I may have to give cottage cheese another go. I ate it a lot as a kid, but I haven’t much of it in recent years and had sort of forgotten about it.

  2. Braum’s is ALWAYS a winner with me !! Also wonderful in their light ice cream… pomegranate cheesecake … key lime pie… and blackberry almond light yogurt ..YUM !!
    Do ya like cottage cheese? If yes, add it to any of your favorite ff yogurts and ya just made a high protein sweet snack – double whammy !! Love your blog, Abbie ♥ Keep writing !!

  3. My favorite low-cal treat recently has been the plump blueberries that have been in every grocery store in my area. Yum! Since sugar loves my thighs even more than fat, I really enjoy the sugar-free ice cream options. I believe it is HEB that has a store-brand sugar-free low-fat fro-yo (that’s a lot of hyphens!) that even my hubby loves.
    I am going to have to check out the Trident gum- sounds yummy!

I love hearing from you guys!