"When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied"
-Herophilus
Website: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/desserts/low-calorie/desserts-under-250-calories/ Desserts to LOVE that are under 250 calories!
We all know and love the adage "save room for dessert" and there is so much truth to this. Desserts are meant to be enjoyed in moderation. Depriving yourself everytime you go out will only backfire. Complete deprivation (as many crash diets suggest) are detrimental for making a truly healthy lifestyle. Enjoy a dessert every now and again, a piece of cake on your birthday won't kill you!
This is not complete freedom to get a slice of cheesecake everytime you sit down at a nice restaraunt. If you do decide to get dessert, think about some healthy ways to enjoy this sweet treat!
Know what it is you are eating before you eat it! A cinnabun can pack in 1,110 calories, 56 grams of fat, 47 grams of sugar, and 141 grams of carbohydrates. This does not mean ALL desserts need to be avoided, just make the right choices!
First, decide beforehand if you are going to do dessert. If the answer is yes then help this guide your eating throughtout the meal. Get a lower calorie entree and truly "save room" by eating less of the entree so you are not overly-stuffed.
Fat is needed in every healthy lifestlye but dessert is usually too much and the wrong kinds. Baked goods (gooey, fresh cookies) are high in hydrogenated fats that lower good cholesterol and raise bad cholesterol. Ice cream has lots of saturated fat that will also raise bad cholesterol. OK so Cheddar's Cookie Monster (Mounds of ice cream served over a massive warm cookie) might not have good effects on our health but there are ways to have your cake and eat it too.
Soy products will have the opposite effect...raising the good cholesterol and lowering the bad. Nowadays there are many tasty soy options such soy ice cream, pudding and frosting. This will save you lots of bad fats, and you can enjoy without the guilt! They are not always posted on the menu, so try asking the waiter if they have soy options!
While on the subject of fat, another GREAT source is nuts (as we learned earlier in the Nutty Nutrition post). Dress up frozen yogurt or soy pudding with some almonds or cashews!! Remember, these are high in fat which increases calories. Yes, they should be savored but keep moderation in mind!
Chocolate. Just the word makes your mouth water, but you can't have it and stay true to your health right? Not exactly. No, chocolate cream pie might not be the greatest choice but chocolate has actually been shown to relax blood vessels. When consuming chocolate keep in mind darker is better. Go for the rich flavor or sweetened dark chocolate...a little goes a long way. Milk chocolate is high in hydrogenated oil and white chocolate is nothing but cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla.
Studies are still being done, but many nutritionist hypothesize an increase in the use of high fructose corn syrup and the growing obesity epidemic. Avoiding this and replacing it with honey can be a much better alternative. Try some honey on the frozen yogurt or order a whole-wheat tortilla with honey! I absolutely love (but can't actually have) greek yogurt with honey and nuts, so wonderful and great for you!!
When thinking about this from the health perspective, fruit is the best source of sweetness!! Think about the simple treat of some grapes or strawberries. Fresh fruit can be a great alternative that will still satisfy the sweet tooth. When fruit is in heavy syrup or covered in so much whipped cream you can no longer see what fruit it is then the nutritious benefit is lost.
White flour has been so refined that it needs nutrients added back in order to be sold legally. If indulging in baked goods try replacing white flour with whole-wheat flour. Also, anytime the receipe calls for butter, applesauce can be used intead...you won't miss it at all!!
Angel food cake, frozen yogurt and meringues are all great options when eating out. And remember, desserts are typically massive so share with a friend or two!
When at home, there are times in which your body craves something sweet. Ignoring this can cause you to overeat later on. My absolute favorite fix is a glass of non-fat milk (actually, mine is lactaid), 1 tsp of vanilla and a packet of sweetner. It tastes like a vanilla milkshake, is filling and has calcium and protein!
A Tollhouse Ice Cream Sandwich has 520 calories and 23 grams of fat while a Breyer's Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich has 160 calories and 6 grams of fat! At Chili's, the Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie has 1,590 calories and 76 grams of fat while the Sweet Shot Red Velvet Cake is only 250 calories and 9 grams of fat. Macaroni Grill's New York Style Cheesecake comes in with a whopping 1,660 calories and 97 grams of fat but the same place offers the Italian Sorbetto and Biscotti for only 240 calories and 1 gram of fat! Read, read, read. There are some desserts out there that will crush your healthy lifestyle when consumed frequently and others that keep you on the right track!
Happy sweet dining :)
Megan
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