Indulge yourself the healthy way

When living healthy, watching our diets and paying attention to fitness, we cut out a lot of indulgences that we may have paid no heed to in the past. Now we no longer reach for that piece of chocolate cake or that bowl of ice cream. But in the process of becoming healthy we should never stop having fun. So here are some indulgences that we think you should be entitled to... Dark chocolate - Rich dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa (75 to 80%) should be a guilt free indulgence. Not only does it have less sugar than probably even an apple, but it can be a great substitute when you are craving something sweet that you should not be eating. Red wine - If you've cut down on alcohol because you're fast obtaining that dreaded beer belly, don't cut alcohol out of your life completely. Red wine is beneficial to your health and is a great choice when you are on a night out. Lazing around - If you are a healthy, active person, for whom fitness and workouts are part of your lifestyle, then don't feel guilty to laze around and indulge yourself by being a couch potato once in a while Sometimes your body tries hard to tell you that it is not up to the workout today, which is when you should listen and just take a break. After a break, you may be even more productive at work and in the gym than before. Cheese - Cheese, because of its natural dairy fat content, can be healthier than many of the other calorie-ridden food we consume. Therefore, if cheese is your thing, don't avoid it altogether but consume it in limited quantities. For example, putting some cheese in your salad is not a bad idea to liven it up. But if your dinner is a cheese pizza, then you may have to reconsider. Tea with honey - If you've given up on sugar, try adding honey to herbal tea to satisfy your sweet cravings. Hot tea with honey satisfies hunger pangs and gives you something healthy to distract you from snacking on unnecessary things. Leisurely lunches - Take out time for long lunches. Enjoying and appreciating what you eat will ensure that you eat slower, chew well, and stop when you're full. Going out for long lunches on a lazy weekend is a luxury you should partake in so that by the time dessert comes around you will probably be so satiated that you may even be able to turn it down. Enjoy what you're eating - is the bottom line.