Syns make the plan a realistic long-term food plan because there will always be room for a little bit of what you fancy.
I’m Tracey! I am a Slimming World Consultant in Tallaght but most importantly I am a Slimming World member. I have lost five stone following the plan and words cannot convey just how much it has changed my life in every single way.
I was a comfort eater, a secret eater and miserably unhappy for all of my teenage life. Since becoming a parent something clicked for me. I want to be around for my son for as long as I can be. I don’t want him to grow up seeing food as the enemy and as a reason to hide his emotions. Slimming World has changed everything for me and I want to help others do the same.
Syns are an important part of the Slimming World plan. In many ways, they make the plan a realistic long-term food plan because there will always be room for a little bit of what you fancy. People tend to feel huge levels of motivation when they start a “diet” or programme but motivation and willpower starts to fade as they fixate upon and miss certain foods they cannot have.
With Slimming World syns give you just enough wiggle room to enjoy a treat but still get a fabulous weight loss. You might look forward to a cup of tea with some chocolate in the evening or a glass of wine and some crisps at the weekend. You can fit these things into the plan and continue to lose weight – how amazing is that?
When it comes to using my syns I like to make sure I’m getting “good value”. Syns are there to be enjoyed if you need them, but it’s all the sweeter when you find a treat that doesn’t use them all up. In some cases, it just means I’m satisfied and don’t end up using my full syn allowance that day and on other days it means I enjoy more than one of that thing.
Here are 10 of my favourite low syn treats. In fact, you’ll find most of these in my house at this very moment.
1. Low Syn Hot Chocolate Sachets
I just love these. You can buy them as individual sachets that work out at around 2 syns each. They are brilliant for a sweet fix, particularly on a cold day. The options brand have interesting flavours like mint chocolate, orange chocolate and Belgian chocolate but I am a Cadbury’s Hi Lights girl – I just think the flavour is gorgeous and it’s such a treat for only two syns.
2. Low Syn Popcorn
I LOVE popcorn and have a real craving for all things salty and “picky” so this really hits the spot for me. I usually go for the Aldi multi pack which work out at 5 syns a packet (5) or the Dunnes Stores own brand which has the same syn value and is actually SO delicious. It tastes like cinema popcorn.
3. 1 Syn Biscuits
I love the Gullon Sugar Free Maria biscuits. They taste like rich tea but at a fraction of the syn values. I’ll often have two of these with a cup of tea and it’s hard to believe that I’m only using two syns. I get mine in Dealz or Mr Price for a great price.
4. Jelly Pots
Who doesn’t love jelly? The 10 calorie pots work out at only half a syn each and they’re to die for with some light squirty cream and sprinkles added. A real treat and the whole thing comes in at around two syns! Look at
these creations.
5. Thick Ice-Creamy Yoghurts
If you like a thick yoghurt I highly recommend these Lindahs Kvarg yoghurts. I get mine in Dunnes Stores or Tesco and they come in at just half a syn. I love to freeze the Vanilla one and serve it with raspberries on top. Feels like ice cream!
6. Halo Tops Ice Cream
These are revolutionary. The syns vary depending on the flavour but you can get a whole tub of ice-cream for between 14 and 20 syns which is amazing. It’s seriously delicious! It’s available in Dunnes, Tesco and Supervalu and is often on special offer.
7. Low Syn Chocolate Bars
There are just so many to choose from but if you want to keep it around the 5 syn mark you can’t go wrong with a Cadbury’s Freddo or a Purple Snack Bar. Delish!
8. Meringues
They range between 2.5 and 5 syns and you just can’t beat a nice chewy meringue with some yoghurt and fruit.
9. Chocolate Syrup
This stuff is great. It works out at half a syn per teaspoon or 2 syns for a tablespoon. It is gorgeous drizzled over fruit, mixed into porridge or as a pancake topping (yes, you can absolutely have pancakes on Slimming World).
10. Cheapy Crisps
I call them cheapy crisps because I always pick them up in the likes of Dealz and Savers. They are usually multi-packs of old favourites like Bikers or Cheetos and some of them come in as low as 2.5/3 syns.
Tracey is a happy mammy to four-year-old Billy. She is a breastfeeder, gentle parent and has recently lost five stone so healthy family eating is her passion! You can find her at www.loveofliving.ie.
