6 Easy Healthy Dessert Options

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The holiday season is in full swing and New Year’s resolutions are right around the corner. With many people wanting to lose weight or be more fit, making small changes to the way you eat can go a long way. Dessert can be one of the hardest things to pass up during parties and it can also be one of the hardest to make healthier. Healthier desserts don’t have to be boring or bland and they can be made with items that you eat every day. Desserts don’t have to be extravagant to be satisfying.

1. Dark Chocolate

Not milk or white chocolate, it has to be dark chocolate, and it has to be 70% or more cacao. Dark chocolate doesn’t have the added fat and sugar of milk chocolate and it is also full of antioxidants that can help your body regulate hormones. You can even find dark chocolate with unique flavors such as chipotle chilies, beer and caramel, and mushroom and walnuts. 

2. Greek Yogurt Parfait

Greek yogurt has double the protein of regular yogurt and can be more filling. Try topping your yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit, granola, chocolate chips or shredded coconut to give it an extra kick of flavor. By pairing flavored Greek yogurt with different toppings, you have an endless supply of healthier dessert ideas.

3. Sugar-Free Gelatin and Pudding

Sugar free foods get a bad rap. Just because a food is sugar-free doesn’t mean there isn’t a sweet flavor to it. There are numerous flavors of sugar-free pudding that you would never guess don’t have added sugar. With flavors like cheesecake and white chocolate, there is something that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Pre-made gelatin cups from the grocery store also make a great frozen dessert. Once they freeze, you have a great-tasting sugar-free treat to dig into. 

4. Trail Mix

Just make sure this trail mix has a blend of mixed nuts, dried fruit and dark chocolate. This is a great healthy dessert option and also has great nutritional value for you.

5. Strawberry Shortcake

You wouldn’t notice, but this dessert is normally full of fat. It can easily be used as a healthier dessert option with a few tweaks. Instead of the traditional shortcake cups, try small angel food cake cups, or slices of angel food cake. This cake has no fat and has a sweet taste that pairs nicely with fresh strawberries. Instead of heavy whipped cream try fat-free whipped cream. With these changes you have a non-fat dessert that is just as delicious as the standard. 

6. Caramelized Bananas

Almost all fruits can be made into delectable desserts. Cooking fresh fruit makes their flavors more intense and with this strong flavor, you will be satisfied with less. Caramelizing bananas is as easy as adding honey and cinnamon to a pan, add banana slices after the oil heats, and cooking for five minutes until the bananas have a crunchy caramelized coating. You can eat them plain, top them with fat free whipped cream or enjoy them in a peanut butter sandwich. 

Overall Health & Nutrition

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