It would be great if every love-in carer’s client had the perfect diet, full of the healthy things like fruit and veggies and containing less of the unhealthy things like sweeties and chocolates. Sometimes it may seem as if your client simply cannot get enough of sweet things.

Sugar cravings are very common particularly among women. In fact, up to 97% of women crave sugar with only 68% of men having the same cravings. Sometimes the urge to eat sweet things can be difficult to control so it is likely that sooner or later you could have a client who has sweet cravings.

There are some foods that help reduce cravings for sweet things. These include fruit and yogurt. Foods containing whole grains will also keep the person fuller for longer.

So, what can we do for a sugar eating client?

Give in a bit

Let your client have a little of what they crave. It will do no good to eliminate sweet stuff from the kitchen as you will find you have a moody and miserable client to deal with. A little now and then may satisfy the binge craving.

Reach for the fruit

Fruit is a good choice as it will reduce the urge to eat other sweet things like chocolate. Although fruit is naturally sweet it contains enough fiber and healthy compounds to be beneficial. It is a good idea to serve fruits which are slightly higher in sugar than others. This includes grapes and mangoes.

Try exercise

Walking, even around the garden, can help to distract from the constant urge to binge on sweet things. Distraction, as most live-in carers know – is a great way to divert attention away from one thing and on to another. You may try to use this tactic when your client reaches for the sweet bowl.

Opt for quality not quantity

If your client must eat chocolate, then choose a dark chocolate which contains over 70% cocoa. This chocolate will also contain some healthy plant compounds which are known as polyphenols. These have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects so are considered ‘less bad’ than other chocolates.

Try dates and berries

Both dates and berries are an excellent choice for reducing sweet cravings. Both are nutritious and the high fiber content means that they are quite low in sugar. Dates also contain potassium and iron and both fruits can help to satisfy sweet cravings.

Final thought

If your client constantly craves sweet stuff, it is important that they eat regularly. Sometimes being hungry is a trigger for grabbing the sweetie bowl or raiding the fridge. A full tummy may be less inclined to snack between meals.

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