Originally said as a slang term of sorts to describe a sugary snack, Gen Z redefined the term “sweet treat.” Of all the generations, Gen Z has been especially keen to indulge in a sweet treat. Coining it as an alternative coping mechanism for when times get tough, rather than what it is at face value: a dessert.
This demographic’s love for a campus dining haul brownie sundae after a long day of classes has been especially pertinent lately. Specifically, on platforms like TikTok and Instagram’s own brand of short-form videos, Instagram Reels. Across those two social media apps and other avenues, like tweets on X, Gen Z talks about their incessant need for a sweet treat.
On both platforms, videos can be found of women talking about their desire for something sugary. That or their opinionated review of a place with amazing desserts. Common phrases or captions typically say something along the lines of, “It’s Sweet Treat O’Clock!” This all goes without saying that based on views alone, this frenzy is evergrowing and undoubtedly relevant.
Psychology’s two cents
Whether it be a mood booster or the motivation behind starting an assignment, part of the value behind a so-called “sweet treat” is the incentivization it provides. Making it clear there’s a psychological backbone to this trend.
In fact, numerous sources and studies point to exactly that, emphasizing how human this episode is.
It’s human nature
Starting off, the National Institute of Health published a piece titled, “The Human Sweet Tooth.” There are quite a few standout points: Reportedly, just the word “sweet” alone equates to good feelings. The piece even states that of all the universal human experiences that exist, sweetness bringing a feeling of pleasure is a “classic example.” Danielle Reed and Amanda McDaniel also found that taste buds turn a chemical signal (sugar touching the tongue) into an electrical signal. Therefore, our perception of sweetness makes the desire for a dessert drug-like. Hence why various users on social media have expressed a day-to-day dependence on consuming something sugary.
Global media company, Forbes, also argued what the National Institute of Health did. Peter Ubel’s article, “Why Desserts Are Irresistable” dives further into the psychological science of the famous “sweet treat.” In short, it argues that while we fight that temptation, we exhaust ourselves. The exhaustion acts like a domino effect, making us more vulnerable to giving in because of our battered willpower.
This finding provides a great explanation as to why many feel such an incessant need for their beloved daily dessert.
Brain-wise, researchers found that when we are merely shown images of a prize food, our brain lights up in favor of the image in front of us. This ties into the willpower aspect for people who are dieting in some capacity. That, or if they’ve been simply warding the treat away for whatever reason.
Where Pavlov comes in
All of which is comparable to Russian physiologist, Ivan Pavlov, when he used classical conditioning to his advantage. Essentially, Pavlov taught his dogs to associate the ringing of a bell with being fed. That indication alone would cause them to salivate, a natural response that would only worsen when receiving food after the ringing of the bell was stalled.
Ergo, psychology argues that the internet phenomenon of itching for a sweet treat is perfectly human.
Where to find a sweet treat for yourself
It’s likely that you’re bound to whatever your dining options are in terms of a sweet treat. That is, unless you have a friend on campus who has a car, you yourself have a car, or you go to a college that’s inside of a walkable community- like a city. When it comes down to a sugary snack, most people think of a cookie or a brownie. In reality, that is quite limiting. Another option could be a sweetened version of your usual from Starbucks. Even switching up your order and getting a frappuccino of some kind rather than straight coffee counts as well.
On the other hand, perhaps those constraints above don’t apply to you. Whatever the case may be, you have the ability to get off campus. That opportunity widens your range of options for a sugary prize. For one, going to the grocery store and getting a store-bought cake, whole or just a slice, is an option. Though, maybe cake isn’t your cup of tea. In that case, there’s all sorts of pastries available to you at stores like Walmart or Target. There’s also the option of supporting a small business, or a local bakery!
Furthermore, fast food restaurants including Burger King and McDonald’s also have dessert options on their menus. Amazingly, they work wonders for both your wallet and your tastebuds.
However, maybe those ideas just aren’t appealing. In that case, there’s bound to be off-campus options that specialize in providing you and your peers with a sweet treat. Typical choices include Insomnia Cookies and Crumbl Cookie. In the case that they aren’t within walking distance, one could always look to food delivery services. For many, Doordash and UberEats are the more popular platforms.
Nara Smith style homemade options that won’t break the bank
Referring back to the grocery store, it’s very real to feel that locations like Insomnia Cookies and Crumbl Cookie can be too pricey in the long run. In that case, why not be like TikTok celebrity, Nara Smith and make yourself a sweet treat from the comfort of your dorm? Famously known for her ability to make food from scratch, Nara Smith both fills people with envy for her skills in the kitchen and inspires users from all over the world to try and do the same. Now, making your own gum like she did from scratch does appear to be quite intimidating. There’s no need to go that far. Instead, channel your inner Nara Smith and get to making something based on a simple recipe online.
That or buy the necessary ingredients to make dessert from a box! Remember, it’s not cheating, you’re just being resourceful.
Five-minute snacks
Outside of following the instructions for a boxed cake, there are other tasty treats out there that can be made using fewer ingredients and taking up less of your precious time. Have a paper to write, but need a sweet companion? No worries, just buy some strawberries and melting chocolate! Heat up some of the melting chocolate for roughly fifteen seconds and then mix until it’s a good enough consistency to dip some berries in it.
The great thing about this idea is that you can control how coated in the chocolate your strawberries get. You can also do the same but with pretzels if you’d rather a savory snack!
Health conscious alternatives
For anyone out there who may not be one for sweets but still wants that incentivization or simply cares for eating healthily, then don’t sweat it! There are alternatives for you that work just as great. Meaning you won’t miss out on that “sweet treat” experience that nearly everyone is talking about. Sometimes making healthier choices simply means swapping. As an example, going back to the chocolate covered strawberry idea from earlier, you could use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. This can also look like editing your typical order from Starbucks or Dunkin. For instance, take off the sweet cream cold foam on your drink or simply get a grande rather than a venti. Secondarily, using almond or oat milk rather than whole milk is just as effective.
Regardless of what a sweet treat looks like to you or if you even choose to indulge in one on the regular, it’s hard to miss how culturally involved this topic has become. It’s also no surprise that psychologists are hopping onto the trend alongside their influencer counterparts on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, but to start a conversation of their own. The narrative being a means to educate rather than promote, or popularize.
