It’s perfectly okay to have a sweet tooth. As a card carrying member of the “sweet tooth club,” I know what it’s like to want something sweet after a meal. If you’re trying to make changes to cut back on sweets and lots of added sugars, it can be daunting thinking about giving up the sweet things you like.
The key is to find a healthy middle ground. There are no “good” or “bad” foods. The idea of restricting really just makes you want it more. Instead, think about how often you have heavier desserts like cake and ice cream. Keep the portion to a few bites. But, have low-calorie sweet treats more often when you crave a little something sweet.
Here are a few refreshing spring desserts that will be sure to satisfy. They are delicious and healthy sweet treats that will get you through the warmer months ahead:
- Frozen Grapes – Love the taste of sherbet, but not all of the added sugar (20 grams per ½ cup)? Just pop some grapes in the freezer. It will kind of be like sherbet-on-the-go. The juice in the grapes freezes to just the right frozen consistency. And, at only 62 calories per cup, it’s bound to become a family favorite. You also get antioxidants from phytonutrients, vitamin C, and fiber.
- Fudge Bars – Who can resist ice cream, especially the chocolate variety? Believe it or not, fudgesicles are a fabulous substitute. The small ones are usually only 100 calories and 1 gram of fat (compared to 200-plus calories in a ½-cup premium chocolate ice cream). They are also available in sugar- and/or fat-free, but stick with the original for the best flavor (those couple extra calories won’t make much of a difference).
- 100% Fruit Popsicles – Popsicles can be a great nostalgic treat. But, if you’re eating one every day, it’s time to switch it up a bit. Regular popsicles are flavoring, sugar, and water. One-hundred percent fruit pops are essentially frozen fruit, so you get the fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients of fruit, but in popsicle form. That’s way more fun! Try brands like Edy’s and Dreyer’s, or make these frozen fruit bars at home.
- Iced Herbal Tea – Lemonade is a summertime favorite. But, drink three 8-ounce glasses, and you’ve taken in almost 300 calories! For a similar fruity burst of flavor, try icing some herbal tea. Tazo’s Passionfruit and Bigelow’s I Love Lemon are super-flavorful and have zero calories and sugar! To make a pitcher of ice herbal tea, boil water and steep nine tea bags per gallon of water. Cap loosely, leave at room temperature for a couple hours, and refrigerate. Yum!
- Frozen Greek Yogurt – In the mood for something a little more ice-creamy, and not on a stick? Greek yogurt is strained more than regular yogurt, so the consistency is thicker and creamier. It also packs a lot more protein and calcium. Add fruit one day, and some chocolate syrup the next. Make sure to buy two percent or fat-free to keep the calories and saturated fat down.
What are your favorite spring treats?