The sweet tooth. A problem that plagues the best of us. It can show up out of nowhere and it is relentless. You can have a wonderful day of eating and working out and still, late at night, the urge to eat those Tate's cookies in your cabinet is all too powerful. Never fear, your sweet tooth crusader is here.

I was raised on McDonalds and Oreos, so junk food is in my DNA. It has taken a lot of practice and discipline to change my eating habits for the better. But I still get cravings from time to time. Let me preface this by saying that I do eat cookies, ice cream, cake, etc — there is nothing wrong with that. The issue is that if you've already had your meals for the day and are clearly not hungry but you still “need to eat something sweet” or if you are trying to limit sugar, desserts aren't an option.

Initially when I get a craving I chug a glass of water and try to deepen my breath and take a moment to consider why I am having a craving. Through practicing meditation and yoga, I've gotten to the point where I can talk myself out of bad decisions, but sometimes my brain is not powerful enough to stop me, so here are some healthy options that help me cope.

Sparkling water

For some reason, beverages with bubbles are just better. When I am in the mood for something sweet, my first line of defense is a can of my favorite sparkling water. But you can't just drink it straight from the can — part of the satisfaction of eating dessert is the pretty plating. I like to put my beverage on ice in a mason jar with some mint leaves and fresh squeezed lemon or lime. This usually does the trick.

Caramel Tea

I actually can't stand drinking tea. I discovered this one out of desperation. I was trying to avoid Uber Eats-ing a piece of cheesecake from my local diner, so I searched through my very barren and healthy cabinets and saw a Yogi box labeled 'Soothing Caramel Bedtime Tea.' And what a delightful surprise it was! I use two teabags in my largest mug and the combo of the taste with the amount of water fills me up!

Frozen bananas

My sister and I grew up on banana shakes. (They were frozen bananas with whole milk and about a cup of sugar.) I've evolved from that recipe and now I always keep frozen bananas in my freezer. Blend one frozen banana with 1 1/2 cups of almond milk and enjoy! I like to top with a tablespoon of cacao nibs or frozen blueberries for texture.