Think you can’t have dessert when you’re trying to lose weight or even just stay healthly? Think again!
Though many women automatically say “no thanks” when the dessert menu appears, there’s no need to deprive yourself or opt for some lower-fat, tasteless version of what you’re really craving. We all need a little indulgence in our lives (even if our goal is to trim down) – plus, dessert can be a clever way to sneak extra vitamins and minerals into your diet. Next time you get a craving, satisfy your sweet tooth with these ideas:
Bake a crustless tart. Put blueberries or sliced apples, sprinkled with a little cinnamon and crunchy treacle sugar in a 190 C oven until tender (about 10 to 15 minutes). It’s like a fruit pie without the crust, and it’ll supply you with fibre and antioxidants.
Make a creamy snack. Scoop vanilla, caramel or chocolate yoghurt into a small strainer lined with a coffee filter, and place the strainer over a bowl. Refrigerate for 8 hours. The liquid will drain, leaving a thick, creamy, calcium-rich yoghurt cheese. Mix it with fruit or fruit purte, or drizzle it with honey and toasted nuts.
Have cheesecake. without the kilojoules Combine 2 cups of low-fat ricotta cheese with 2 tablespoons of sugar and whip with a hand mixer until it’s smooth. Serve 1/2 cup with fresh berries or berry puree. It tastes like cheesecake but has less than 800kJ.
Try chocolate fondue. Pour 60g of dark chocolate chips (about 1/3 cup) into a shallow ceramic or glass bowl and microwave for 2 minutes until nearly melted. Use as a dip for berries, sliced fruit or nuts.
Top fruit with rich treats. Use ice cream, a tablespoon or two of fudge sauce, or a thin slice of cake as a garnish for a platter of fresh fruit (not the other way around).
Eat a small portion of “real” dessert. Mindfully Bake a batch of your favourite biscuits, put one or two (or a petit-four or a sliver of pecan pie) on a plate, and sit down and savour every bite. It’s more rewarding when you focus on flavour and texture. A modest-sized portion of a treat you love is usually better than a whole dish of a less-satisfying low-fat or low-kilojoule dessert.
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