When starting a diet, often dessert is the first thing to go. It doesn’t always have to be this way though. By making the right choices when making your own desserts, you can still satisfy that sweet tooth without all the extra calories. In fact, these desserts add plenty of nutritional value.
The fruits in these recipes add much-needed fiber. The nut butters add protein while the dark chocolate and cacao nibs are powerhouses of antioxidants. These healthy treats are easy to put together and contain almost no added sugar. These options give you all the satisfaction without the following sugar crash.
1. All Fruit Popsicles
If you have a popsicle maker, this recipe is ideal. Simply blend up your favorite fruit with a few sprigs of your favorite herbs like mint or basil. Pour this into your popsicle molds and leave in your freezer for a few hours. They make quick frozen treats that are ready to enjoy at any time once you’ve made them.
2. Sweetened Cottage Cheese
Cut up some fresh fruit or berries and add it to a serving of cottage cheese. If you are really missing the sugar, you can stir in a teaspoon of maple syrup to sweeten it up. Cottage cheese gives you a good serving of protein, B vitamins, calcium and (if it is cultured) probiotics to maintain a healthy gut.1
3. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C. Believe it or not, about 8 medium strawberries contain about 150% of our daily recommended intake for only 50 calories.2 Although they can contain sugar, they are low on the glycemic index which means they provide a slow release of energy. Dip these fruits in melted dark chocolate and put them in the fridge to set up. The darker the better because this means the chocolate contains less milk and sugar and more antioxidants instead.3
4. Peanut Butter Mini Sandwiches
Use natural peanut butter to top a whole wheat cracker, add a slice of banana, and top it up with another whole wheat cracker to make a wholesome, yet delicious after-meal snack. All of these ingredients provide a slow release of energy which means they won’t cause a quick spike in your blood sugar levels.
5. Dairy-Free Soft Serve
This soft serve doesn’t have any added dairy, eggs, or sugar. Simply slice bananas and place the slices on a sheet pan covered with baking paper. Leave to freeze for a few hours and then transfer the frozen slices into a ziplock bag. You can blend up these frozen banana pieces to make a smooth and creamy soft serve with none of the extra calories. This recipe lends well to adaptation so feel free to throw in some natural peanut butter, cocoa powder, or vanilla extract.
6. No Churn Peach Sorbet
Cut up fresh peaches into chunks and freeze them on a baking tray topped with baking paper overnight. This should allow them to freeze in individual pieces. Once they are frozen, put them in a blender or food processor with a little bit of raw honey(you may not need this depending on how sweet your fruit is). Add some lemon zest as well for a fresh flavor. If you wish, you may add some non-dairy milk to make it a little creamier. Once it’s blended, pour into a container and freeze again for a few hours until it’s scoopable. You can do this with different kinds of fruit and flavor combinations such as cantaloupe and mint or mango and ginger.
You don’t have to skimp out on dessert if you make the right choices. Give these fresh-tasting and easy recipes a try and you definitely won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything!
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