Do you have an insatiable sweet tooth?
Whether it’s after a heavy lunch or in the middle of the night, you constantly find yourself craving for your favorite dessert.
With obesity and diabetes concerns on the rise, are there any ways to indulge in our sugary cravings more healthily?
Fruits are no doubt one of your best dessert options as they contain zero artificial or added sugar – the big culprits of rising weight and blood sugar levels.
But how can we make fruit desserts appetizing and flavorful without unnecessarily increasing our sugar intake?
Fruit popsicles
Fruit popsicles Ideal desserts for cooling off in warm weather. They are very easy to make!
Simply slice up your favorite fruits and throw them into a cup. Add a bit of fruit juice of your choice, and insert a craft stick or chop stick in the middle. Put it in the freezer for at least 2 to 3 hours. Once its ready, run the popsicle cup under warm water for a few seconds to separate the popsicle more easily. Now serve and enjoy!
Yogurt Parfait
Adding flavor and texture without the unnecessary sugar, yogurt parfaits are great for satisfying your dessert cravings – and they make great to-go breakfast too!
Step 1) Just scoop a few servings of Greek yogurt into a bowl, and simply throw in your favorite fruits, fresh or dried.
Step 2) You can play around by adding a variety of other ingredients such as nuts, oats, and bran… these are extra carbohydrates, so make sure you just eat the right amount!
Compared to regular yogurt, low fat Greek yogurt is a healthier choice as lactose (milk sugar) and liquid whey are drained off it. In other words, we get the yummy, thick, and creamy consistency without any excess sugars or artificial thickeners, and even milk fat. But if you find plain Greek yogurt too sour for your liking, you could opt for other yogurt varieties that come in many flavors, like vanilla. Of course, however, nothing beats unflavored yogurt if minimizing your calorie gain is your main concern!
Banana Ice Cream
It’s another hot and humid day, and you can’t help but crave for something to cool yourself down.
It’s times like these when its hard to deny the allure of ice cream.
Regular ice cream, however, is generally made from dairy and contains around 10-16% milkfat and 10-14% sucrose. That’s a lot of fat and sugar.
You could easily do away without ice cream if you’re lactose intolerant or simply allergic to dairy. But what if you’re trying to lose weight?
This make-ahead banana ice cream recipe is a much healthier and easier substitute that is just as cool, smooth, and creamy on your taste buds!
Step 1) Peel some bananas and slice them into 1 to 2-inch long strips. Pour them into a container put them in the freezer for at least 1 to 2 hours.
Step 2) Pour your frozen banana slices into a food processor and mix until creamy.
Step 3) Add peanut butter or mixed cut fruits of your choice. Serve and enjoy!
Besides fruits, here are some tips to choose a healthier dessert if you really need to have one:
- When eating chocolate, choose dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa
- At Starbucks or other frappe joints, opt out of whipped cream and request for less to no sugar
- Settle with smoothies instead of frappes
