Tag Archives: apple

10 Healthy Desserts—and They’re Tasty, Too

A sweet tooth is meant to be satisfied—yes, even if you’re watching your weight. Dessert, after all, is one of life’s pleasures, and deprivation typically backfires. It doesn’t have to be a high-calorie, high-fat disaster, either: The trick is making smart choices and substitutions. “Take advantage of foods that are naturally sweet and simply delicious,” says registered dietitian Keri Gans, author of The Small Change Diet. Steer clear of fatty ingredients like creamy whipped topping or butter, and stick with fresh fruit and low-fat choices. Here are 10 desserts that are as healthy as they are tasty:

1. Grilled fruit. Try throwing pineapple, banana, apple, or pear slices on the grill. “There’s nothing healthier than sticking with fresh fruit, and on the grill, it becomes even sweeter,” Gans says. Grilling concentrates flavor by reducing water content, while also caramelizing the fruit’s natural sugars. One serving of grilled pineapple usually provides around 80 calories.

2. Dark chocolate “bark”. Melt dark chocolate and spread it on parchment paper. Sprinkle in healthy ingredients like tart cherries or sunflower seeds, suggests registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet. Refrigerate it for five minutes before breaking it into small pieces. “It’s a healthy option because dark chocolate has less sugar than milk chocolate,” says Jackson Blatner. “And it contains more cocoa, which may make it heart-smart.” One piece of “bark” should come in at less than 100 calories.

3. Ricotta and berries. Blend 1 cup of mixed berries with ¼ cup of low-fat ricotta. “If you’re in the mood for ice cream, this can do the trick,” Gans says. “It’s creamy, sweet, and low in calories.” One serving provides between 150 and 200 calories.

4. Healthy apple “pie.” Bake an apple, cut in half, until soft. Top it with 2 tablespoons of low-fat Greek yogurt, a dash of cinnamon, and crumbs from one crushed graham cracker. Expect to spend about 150 calories.

5. Biscotti. “If you can stick with one, it’s a great low-calorie cookie,” says Gans; the smaller ones should only set you back about 70 calories. Liven things up with, say, an almond-apricot version, or even honey pistachio.

6. Greek yogurt berry brûlée. Spread plain, nonfat Greek yogurt over fresh berries in a small serving bowl. Sprinkle on a teaspoon of sugar, and use a culinary torch to burn the sugar for a minute or two, until it’s golden. Not only is this treat tasty, but the yogurt is packed with protein, and there’s lots of vitamin C and calcium, too. Calories: around 175.

7. Banana “ice cream” with cinnamon and walnuts. Purée frozen banana chunks with a splash of almond milk, creating a treat with a creamy, ice cream-like texture. Sprinkle chopped walnuts and cinnamon on top. (Cinnamon is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects, and may help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels.) This dessert is a “perfect sub” for ice cream, says Jackson Blatner. “It has less calories, no fat, no added sugar, and potassium and fiber from the banana.” Calories should add up to around 200 to 230.

8. Chocolate chia and almond bites. Use a food processor to purée pitted dates and water until a sticky paste forms. Add in cocoa powder, almonds, and chia seeds to create a solid dough. Shape the mixture into tablespoon-balls, and then refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour. The dates make the dessert sweet, and the almonds and chia seeds provide healthy fats—along with texture and crunch. Calories: 160.

9. Mini ice-cream sandwiches. Put a small scoop of light vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt between two vanilla wafers. Roll the sandwich in finely chopped dark or bittersweet chocolate so that it sticks to the ice cream. Each sandwich should cost about 200 calories.

10. Dark chocolate-dipped fruit. Microwave a dark chocolate bar until it’s almost melted, and then dip in the fruit of your choice—be it strawberries, mango, papaya, apricot, or banana. “It’s a nourishing and filling option, since fruit is loaded with fiber and water,” says Jackson Blatner. Antioxidants in cocoa are thought to boost the flexibility of blood vessels and lower blood pressure; since dark chocolate has a higher concentration of cocoa than milk chocolate, it contains more of these helpful compounds. Calories in a single chocolate-covered strawberry: around 80.

7 Healthy Snacks to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth on a Diet

One of the things that people often miss the most when trying to lose weight is dessert. When you’re trying to save calories, sweets are often the first to go.

Fortunately, you don’t have to forgo all sweets. There are many delicious sweet treats that you can enjoy without breaking your diet. Check out the following list for ideas.

*Note: As with all things, moderation is key; keep an eye on your portion size and stay within your calorie deficit.

1. Fruit salad. Fruit is naturally sweet and makes an excellent choice for those who are trying to watch their weight but still satisfy a sweet tooth. A single piece, though, can get boring. By making a fruit salad and mixing up several different types of fruits, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of tastes and textures. If you’re cooking for yourself, cut up the fruit and keep each fruit in an individual storage container to avoid the fruit tastes melding together.

2. Sugar-free pudding. Whether you buy the pre-made packs or make your own, pudding can be an excellent way to satisfy a chocolate craving. A cup of sugar-free pudding will counts towards your dairy requirement, making this a versatile dessert. Continue reading 7 Healthy Snacks to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth on a Diet

What can i do to lose 14pounds and be toned?

Ask:

Im 18, a UK size 12, i weigh 10stone (64kg).. Im 5’5!!

Please can anyone give me tips on losing weight, i want to lose 14pounds (1 stone) and get rid of all my wobbly bits and be more toned.

I probably eat around 1,700 calories a day and hardly exercise!!
How many calories should i be consuming and whats the best sort of exercise i can do??

Thanks for suggestions (5 stars for most helpful answer)

Answer (2):

Answer 1:

Hiya,
i think a size 12 is a great size.
I’m a quite curvey & put on weight very easily but as i’,m a dancer i have to keep tones & stay slim….but not skinny! i’m a bout a size 10/12.

1,700 clas is def too much if your not exercising.
you need about 1,200 a day of good calories.

i’m not sure how big your room is but I bought a cross trainer online & its save me money on gym membership! its the best thing to tone up arms, torso, legs and bum. you can go on it in front of telly too!

if you want a cheaper option, try buying a mini trampoline. you can put it in or outdoors. its amazing for your legs & will have you sweating in about 10mins.
normal press ups are great for arms & also ‘the plank’ for torso(on your front with your self propped on elbows with legs stretched out the back on your feet)
even holding handstands against the wall everyday will reall tone your upper body!

or try strapping ankle weights to your ankles & do your daily routine as normal, your legs will tone up & tou’ll be lugging round extra weight.

try eating a rainbow of fruit & veg a day:

red- apples, peppers
orange – oranges!
yellow – banana, peppers
green – broccoli, peas, grapes
blue – blueberries
purple – grapes, aubergene, berries

only treat yourslef to white bread, white rice, chips, chocolate, crisps, baked goods & alcohol now & then.

hope thats helped.

ps – hot water & lemon every morning is a what i swear by! its cleared up my skin & help me burn calories faster!

Answer 2:

My main advice would be to start doing some exercise, try just a simple walk once or twice a day, do you have a dog? If so take him for a walk a couple of times a day, walk briskly so you work up a sweat and lose some calories in the process.

Walk to work/college instead of getting the bus or if it is too far to walk consider getting a cycle, cycling really tones the bum and legs up. Swimming is also a great form of exercise that isn’t too strenuous but really helps to tone you up.

As for food, eat sensibly, don’t snack on anything other than fruit or nuts etc, change the way you eat, e.g. swap white breadn for granary or brown bread, eat a ryveta with a topping instead of a roll at lunch, steam veg instead of boiling it, don’t fry anything or roast anything and basically just avoid fatty foods, you should find the weight drops off you and your body begins to tone up.

Good luck!