I’ve always been a HUGE dessert gal. When I was little, my favorite dessert was an oreo brownie hot fudge sundae at Dairy Queen. My aunt always jokes about the time when she asked me if she could have a bite, and I responded with “Sure, as long as you don’t take any oreo, brownie, or fudge”. I took dessert very seriously as a kid, and that’s something that hasn’t changed a bit.
Now that I’m older and more self-aware of my eating habits, I realize that I simply can’t eat an oreo brownie hot fudge sundae after every meal. I’m all for treating yourself, but there is definitely too much of a good thing. My love for dessert hasn’t changed, but my approach to it has. I realize now that dessert doesn’t necessarily have to be a giant sundae, or an oversized piece of cake. It can be somewhat “healthy”, or it can be nonexistent! Today I want to share a few nutritious dessert ideas, for those of you who still want to indulge but are looking to do so in moderation.
Granola:
Granola is a huge grocery staple for me. The best part? It’s high in fiber, protein, and some brands are fortified with iron! My favorite granola is Nature Valley Peanut Butter, and I love eating it like cereal with some milk for added Calcium, protein, and Vitamin D. It really leaves me feeling satisfied and like I’m actually done eating.
Apples with Nut Butter & Chocolate Chips:
Apples and chocolate is an unexpected combo, but trust me on this one. This dessert is high in protein, fiber, and Vitamin C. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can use dark chocolate chips for a boost of healthy fats!
Mango Protein Smoothie Bowl:
This one is something I whipped up the other night, and it did the freakin job. I was weirdly proud of myself, even though it only took like five minutes. Here’s what you gotta do:
1.5 cups of frozen mango
½ cup of vanilla Greek yogurt
a splash of ginger lime Ice Water
Throw it all in a blender until it’s about the consistency of soft serve ice cream, transfer to a bowl, and sprinkle with coconut if you’re feeling it. This is high in Vitamin C, fiber, protein, Calcium, Vitamin D, and the Ice Water contains multiple B Vitamins with no calories or added sugars! The best part? It feels like you’re eating ice cream. Throw in some sprinkles if you wanna and get crazy.
Baked peaches:
This is a little something I came up with last summer, and it would be amazing served with Greek yogurt or a cup of vanilla ice cream! Here’s what you need:
Peaches (sliced)
Honey
Brown sugar
Cinnamon
All you need to do is coat the peaches with honey, sprinkle on the brown sugar and cinnamon, and bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes. These were so fun to eat and super sweet with a hint of tartness. These are a great source of Potassium, fiber, and Vitamin C!
Dessert isn’t something that has to be skipped, even if you are on a health and wellness journey. I hope you use these ideas as inspiration to start seeing it as something that you canhave, no matter who you are, or what your health goals are.
aspiring-rd 