Tag Archives: chocolate

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.

5 fun diet and fitness alternatives

5 enjoyable things that boost your health

Fed up of fitness classes? Sick of salads? Healthy living doesn’t have to be hard work! While we don’t advise you cut out exercise and healthy eating entirely, for those moments when you just don’t feel like being healthy, try these fun alternatives instead.

Fun diet and fitness alternative 1: Laughter

If you’re having a day off from exercise, the good news is you could still get the same health benefits as you would from a workout simply through having a laugh. Research studies led by Dr Lee Berk of Loma University have found that repetitious sessions of “mirthful laughter” have similar effects on the body as moderate exercise; improving your mood, lowering blood pressure, reducing bad cholesterol and enhancing the immune system.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have also found that regular laughter may be as good for your heart as exercise. Their research suggests that 15 minutes of laughter a day helps blood vessels to function better and has similar health benefits to a workout. Consequently, while exercise is essential for good health, swapping the odd gym session for a comedy club or funny movie may not be as bad a swap as you think. Continue reading 5 fun diet and fitness alternatives

Some Foods that Sound Healthy… But Really Aren’t

1. Prepared Salads

Don’t assume that anything with the word “salad” in it must be healthy. Prepared tuna salads, chicken salads, and shrimp salads are often loaded with hidden fats and calories due to their high mayonnaise content. While a lot depends on portion size and ingredients, an over-stuffed tuna sandwich can contain as many as 700 calories and 40 grams of fat. If you’re ordering out, opt for prepared salads made with low-fat mayonnaise, and keep the portion to about the size of a deck of cards. Better yet, make your own.

2. Granola

Granola typically starts with nutritious ingredients: rolled oats, dried fruit, and a healthful dose of fat from nuts and seeds. The problem with this breakfast cereal is that most of the whole grain goodness and fiber is coated in sugar, honey, and molasses and then baked in oil to deliver the crunchy texture and taste we all love.  The price we pay for granola’s sweet and crunchy appeal is a hefty caloric punch. A traditional 1-cup breakfast serving can pack nearly 600 calories and 20 grams of sugar before adding milk or yogurt! Not to mention, with the addition of gourmet ingredients (think: coconut, chocolate, and roasted almonds) some commercial brands deliver as much as 25 grams of fat per serving! The verdict: If you can’t live without the crunch of your favorite granola clusters, try using this whole grain as a condiment and simply sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons onto Greek yogurt or hot oatmeal for an added crunch.  Or try our Homemade Energy Bars! If you are looking for a commercially available option that won’t bust your diet, read labels carefully and check to see that the granola is lower in fat and sugar, and remember a serving size for this food is typically only ¼ to ½ cup.

3. Bran Muffins

Most bran muffins, even those sold at delis and coffee shops, are made with generally healthy ingredients. The problem is portion size. Many muffins sold in stores today dwarf the homemade muffins made a generation ago. A random sampling of some coffee and restaurant chain bran muffins showed that many topped 350 calories apiece, and that’s before any butter or jam. The bran muffins at one popular chain bakery contain 600mg of sodium―roughly one-third of a day’s maximum. Even a healthful food, if over-consumed, can be not-so-healthful. Enjoy your bran muffin, but just eat half, and save the rest for an afternoon snack. If you want to save money and calories, bake your own. Continue reading Some Foods that Sound Healthy… But Really Aren’t