It sounds too good to be true, but you really can pull off dessert recipes that are both quick and healthy.
Say healthy and dessert in the same sentence and most people will think sugar-free blandness. The secret to healthy desserts is substituting fresh food flavors for some of the sugar and fat. Find more tips here, including two simple recipes.
Easy Peach and Frozen Yogurt
Ingredients:
2 peaches
1 cup of your favorite low-fat frozen yogurt
Directions:
Simply slice peaches, warm in the microwave for 30 seconds or until warm.
Top with frozen yogurt. Enjoy.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Serving Size: 1 cup. Calories 252. Total Fat 0.5g. Sodium 130 mg. Potassium 372 mg. Sugars 50 g. Protein 7.8g. Vitamin A 13%. Vitamin C 22%. Calcium 21%. Iron 3%.
Frozen Yogurt with Warm Apples
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
2 medium apples, peeled, cored and chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch freshly ground nutmeg (optional)
Low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt
Directions:
Heat a saute pan over medium heat.
Add butter to pan and allow to melt. When butter starts to sizzle, add apples and stir to coat.
Mix the maple syrup with the cinnamon and nutmeg, if desired. Then add the maple syrup mixture to the apples and stir again.
Cook the apples until they turn soft (approximately 5 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces).
Place 1 scoop of frozen yogurt each into 4 small bowls, top with one quarter of the apples, and serve.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Serving Size: 1 scoop yogurt with 1/4 of the apples. Calories 275. Total Fat 3.1g. Saturated Fat 1.8g. Sodium 152mg. Potassium 119mg. Sugars 49.4g. Protein 6.3g. Vitamin A 2% . Vitamin C 12%. Calcium 21%.
More tips for making dessert healthier
- A perfect piece of fresh fruit in season is the best dessert.
- When indulging in an occasional treat, enjoy whatever dessert you wish in moderate portions and savor slowly.
- Be mindful! You will get even more enjoyment from a few bites eaten slowly rather than a big portion eaten too quickly.
- Instead of a large dessert with a little fruit garnish, have a lot of fruit with a small piece of decadent garnish such as some very good chocolate or a tiny piece a cake.
- Boost the flavor of foods with herbs and spices. Cinnamon is an example of a spice that adds a lot of sweetness without sugar.
- Serve your dessert on small plates; it makes the dish appear larger to your eyes and belly.
- Use contrasts in texture, color and temperature.
- Share! Consider sharing one serving with someone else. If you’re making dessert at home, share it with your neighbors or freeze some for another time.
