When hunger pangs strike, it may seem irresistible to grab a chocolate bar, or dip into that cake Karen left in the office kitchen.
But snacking doesn't always have to be calorie-heavy.
We spoke to eight nutritionists who revealed their go-to sweet treat - and why it is guilt-free.
1. SMOOTHIES
'My second pregnancy has woken up my sweet tooth,' New York-based Mariana Dineen, a Registered Dietitian at Top Balance Nutrition, admitted to Daily Mail Online.
'But I'm taking advantage of my cravings - while also boosting my intake of vitamins and minerals.
'Being pregnant doesn't mean eating for two but eating twice as good.'
When the cravings strike, Mariana's go-to is a smoothie.
'Who said smoothies were only for breakfast! I lighten up my snack smoothies by skipping the protein powders and opting for a quarter-cup of low fat Greek yogurt instead.
'I love variety and always some combination of fruit, leafy greens, almond milk and yogurt with dates for added sweetness.'
2. DARK CHOCOLATE
This was a big winner among our nutritionists - all gushing about the virtues of the darkest chocolate you can find.
Dineen mixes banana and dark chocolate and freezes them into bite-size snacks for when she's craving chocolate ('which is often').
'The potassium-rich banana and the dark chocolate antioxidant powerhouse is the perfect nutritional splurge,' she explains.
Another easy chocolate-y snack on Dineen's list is apple slices dipped in Rawtella.
'Think healthy Nutella, made with only hazelnuts, cacao and coconut sugar,' she says.
'The crunchy and fiber filling apple combined with heart healthy fats from the hazelnut keep my energy levels high and my baby belly full.'
Another chocolate fan is former Equinox head of nutrition Oz Garcia, who has worked with a smattering of A-listers.
He told Daily Mail Online: 'My favorite is a super dark chocolate bar (at least 70 percent) tricked out with roasted almonds, or roasted/puffed quinoa.'
Mary Jane Detroyer, a personal trainer and nutritionist based in New York, said she even lets herself indulge in some cookies in between her healthy and active lifestyle.
'My favorite snack to have when I am craving something sweet is some dark chocolate with almonds or a couple of biscuit or shortbread type cookies that have dark chocolate on them,' she told Daily Mail Online.
3. COTTAGE CHEESE PARFAIT
Abbey Sharp, a Canadian Registered Dietitian and founder of Abbey's Kitchen, has an unusual recipe to satisy her sweet tooth.
'When I'm craving something sweet, I like making a cottage cheese parfait,' she explains.
'I whip cottage cheese in the food processor until it turns into a thick cream, then layer it with pineapple, coconut, cashews and a little lime zest.
'Sweeten it with a touch of honey, to taste and enjoy!
'Cottage cheese is loaded with high quality protein that keeps me satiated longer, coconut and cashews offer a nice hit of fiber, and healthy fats, and the fruit adds that little hit of sweetness and energizing carbs to keep me going.'
4. SPECIAL TEA
'I have many options but I normally drink a Kombucha (fermented tea) which tastes like soda,' Dana James, aka The Food Coach NYC, who is a triple-certified nutritionist.
'Sometimes I have a sweet rose tea with honey.
'If none of those appeal, then it I know its mind wanting something sweet not my body, and I ignore!'
5. SWEET & SPICY MEXICAN SNACKS
Dineen, born and raised in Mexico, said she has been working in nutrition in the US for years.
But still nothing beats fresh fruit from her home country.
'I can't get over my cravings for the flavors of my native Mexico,' she explains.
'Whenever I'm in the mood for something close to home I opt for fruit (mango, pineapple, watermelon or oranges) covered in a chili-lime seasoning.
'It's the perfect combo of spicy and sweet, and the acid brings out the fruit's natural sweetness and intensifies the flavors.'
6. FUN FRUIT CONCOCTIONS
Dana of foodcoachnyc.com says she sometimes chops up apple and dusts it in cinnamon.
Meanwhile Limor Baum, a Registered Nutritionist and Eating Disorder Specialist, covers dates in coconut flakes.
Baum also makes her own 'energy balls' out of sticky sweet dates, rolling them in coconut oil, nuts, nut butter, and chia seeds.
7. YOGURT - FRESH OR FROZEN
Tammy Lakatos Shames, one half of the Nutrition Twins, says she uses yogurt to satisfy her ice cream desires.
'When I have a sweet craving, I swap calorie-loaded indulgences like ice cream for blended frozen fruits or lightened up, decadent-tasting desserts like Halo Top,' she says.
'It has just 60-90 calories a serving ,with 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber to prevent sugar highs and crashes and keep blood sugar stable so that I won't crave more sugar.
'And I save calories, too!'
Baum, meanwhile, adds fresh yogurt to her list, opting for a Chobani Flip yogurt, with almonds and chocolate pieces in it.
8. SNACK BAR
Snack bars get a bad rap for their high sugar content.
But according to Lyssie Lakatos, the other half of the Nutrition Twins, there are some good options.
'I go for KIND Nuts & Spices bar—either their Dark Chocolate Almond Mint Dark or Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt,' she says.
'They completely satisfy my cravings for sweets and for chocolate.
'It's a seemingly indulgent snack but it's made from whole nuts, and flavored with delicious spices!
'I also love that each bar only has 5g of sugar or less and no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols.'
/Daily mail/
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