Nutritionist shares low-calorie alternatives to autumn sweet treats

Nutritionist shares low-calorie alternatives to autumn sweet treats You can still enjoy your pumpkin spice lattes and toffee apples As autumn arrives, indulging in a seasonal tasty treat doesn't have to mean you have to derail your health goals. A nutritionist has shared some thoughts on alternatives to autumn favourites that are lower in calories. Tiffany Williams, senior nutritionist at fitness group The Edge, shared some thoughts for diet-conscious people who love a sweet treat like a pumpkin spice latte or a toffee apple. You can easily create a lighter version of these popular treats with some simple changes. Pumpkin spice latte Ms Williams said: "If Autumn just doesn't feel the same without this warming staple, consider making a few tweaks to reduce the calorie load." Her tips are: - If you are ordering the drink at a café, go for a size smaller - Swap to sugar-free syrup - Ensure it's made with semi-skimmed milk rather than whole milk - Have it without the cream topping. Toffee apples and gingerbread Ms Williams said you can trim the calories with several other autumn favourite treats. She said: "Other classic autumnal treats include fruit crumbles, toffee apples and gingerbread. "Lighter versions of these would be a homemade fruit crumble with a spoonful of 0 per cent fat Greek yogurt instead of custard or cream, apple slices on sticks with dark chocolate drizzled over, or homemade cinnamon oat cookies." How much weight could I lose between now and Christmas? For those determined to lose some weight in time for the festive period, the nutritionist shared some tips on how best to do this. She said: "The British Dietetic Association suggests that a weight loss of 0.5-1kg (1-2 pounds) per week is an achievable target. "As there are around 15 weeks to go until Christmas, a weight loss in the region of 7-15kg could theoretically be achieved, but that depends on a few factors." It's not just about creating the ideal weight-loss diet - Ms Williams said the key factors to think about are: - Your starting weight - Your healthy or target body weight - How sustainable the calorie deficit is with the diet you go for. Getting good habits to stick The expert also said not to think about your progress being just about the weight on the scales. She explained: "Focusing on 'wins' beyond the scale can really help to boost motivation and make it easier for those good habits to stick." She said some other important questions to consider are: - How do your energy levels feel? - How are your clothes fitting? - Have you been sleeping better?