For some, a meal is not really complete unless it is finished off with dessert. But if you are trying to make healthier dessert choices, what should you keep in mind?
Calorific desserts such as cake, pie, chocolate and ice cream taste great, but they are packed full of calories, fat and sugar. If you are determined to make healthier dessert choices, you should view these foods as occasional treats, rather than part of your everyday diet plan. There is no need to eliminate these altogether from your diet, unless advised to do so by your physician.
Make Your Own Low-fat Desserts
Shop-bought desserts are convenient when you are rushed for time and need a quick dessert for a mid-meal. However, shop-bought desserts are full of artificial ingredients, colours and flavours. Even if you opt for a “low-fat” dessert, it is bound to make up for the lower fat content by containing more sugar or artificial sweeteners and preservatives.
But if you are a dab hand at home baking and pie making, you can make your very own low-fat, low-calorie desserts. The great thing about making your own desserts is that you can control the ingredients you add by cutting down on the fat, sugar or other ingredients. You can even control the portions, by cutting down a recipe and tailoring it more for your particular needs.
Learn to Appreciate Fruit
We all know we need to get 5-a day, but how many of us balk at doing so? If your idea of eating fruit involves reluctantly eating an apple once a week, then you will need to change your attitude to fruit and learn to appreciate it more. Take a trip to your local farmer’s market where you can get to sample, smell and compare different fruits that are in season. You will find that as you wander around the different stalls that fruit will start to look more appealing.
Do not just limit yourself to apples, bananas and oranges. Try kiwi fruit, mango, and papaya, different varieties of grapes, peaches, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. The possibilities are endless. Fruit does not just have to be whipped up into a fruit salad to taste great. Use different kinds of fresh fruit to make healthy smoothies with low-fat milk and frozen yogurt, and a hint of honey for sweetness. Or use fruit to create a healthy version of apple crumble, a fruit fool or when making a trifle.
When it comes to making healthy dessert choices, you do not have to stop eating cake and switch to eating an apple after each meal. Start off by cutting down on calories, fat and sugar, as these can contribute to weight gain and other health problems. Put your cooking skills to good use by making your own healthy low-fat desserts and learn to appreciate fruit. Fruit can be eaten on its own, in fruit salads, smoothies, hot desserts and more.
