I have a sweet tooth. I love chocolate and cake and ice cream and candy. But….being gluten-free, most of that is off-limits to me. I have to be really careful about what sweets I eat because most of them contain wheat or a glutinous ingredient. Because of that and through a lot of effort on my part, my taste-buds have changed. Actually, being in Japan for a year in my early twenties helped as well. Their sweets are a lot less sugary and sweet than ours! They rely more on natural flavour than sweetness.  In fact, the Japanese would warn me when I was in a store and about to buy a pastry or candy that it wouldn’t be as sweet as “at home”. So, over the years, my taste-buds have gotten used to less and less sugar! I even love bitter flavours now. But….every so often I CRAVE sweets- gimme a bag of sugar and I’ll spoon it in my mouth kinda cravings. When that happens, I eat fruit or – my fave “candy”- Medjool dates! But only a couple (or a few, let’s be honest) or my tongue hurts. When I’m not shoving them in my mouth, I make these Chocolate Date Snack Balls. These are great when I feel really hungry and light-headed between meals and I get really hungry (hangry, too!) or after a workout. Let me know if you make them and what you think. Full of protein from the nuts and delicious from the cocoa, these are great to curb hunger and cravings on the quick. Other Posts You May Enjoy: Surviving the Introvert Hangover. Super Easy Tomato Sauce Gluten-Free Baking Alternatives: Three of The Best.