Cheat Your Sweet Tooth With Aphrodisiacs

Sometimes it's just hard to get through the day without some goodies. It's not that I'm hungry - I just want something yummy.

What my body wants - or should I say what my taste buds crave - is taste. The tongue can distinguish 4 different tastes: salt - sour - sweet - bitter. When the tongue has been stimulated with all 4 of these, your whole body is happy and the munchies disappear.

Fresh mint, lemon and chili are all good for subduing the urge to indulge.

Fresh mint: Planted some in a pot on your windowsill, and use the leaves in tea, pesto, salads - or with ice cream and other desserts.

Lemon: Add the juice to tea, use the fruit in sherbets and fruit salads also good in marinades, salad dressing and couscous, and with fish.

Chili: In pasta sauce, on cheese, in egg dishes, soups, and of course the famous chili con carne.

If I have one of those days where I just HAVE to have something sweet, I take ground nutmeg, cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon. I add this combination to a bit of muesli, sprinkle it over a little helping of yoghurt and presto! The urge is satisfied - and I didn't eat a packet of fudge.