9 Nutritionist-Approved Desserts To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Slideshow
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The ingredients used in the following list of desserts are far from processed, with most of them being whole, healthy foods. Click ahead to see our 9 Nutritionist-Approved Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth.
All Fruit Ice Pops
Amy Kubal, MS, RDN, LN, advises blending "fresh fruits of your choice" and freezing them "in [ice pop] molds, small paper cups, or ice cube trays."
Click here for 8 Healthy Ice Pops You Can Feel Good About Snacking On.
Blueberry Cinnamon Applesauce
Cher Pastore, RDN, author of Blood Sugar Miracle, has an easy, healthy recipe for Blueberry Cinnamon Applesauce. Compared to a store-bought applesauce, you'll find the lack of added sugars in this recipe to cut back on calories while boosting nutritional value.
Coconut and Cacao Bites
Dr. Scott Schreiber DC, DACRB, DCBCN, MS, LDN, Cert. MDT, CKTP, CNS, has been practicing in Newark, Delaware, for more than 11 years. He is a chiropractic physician that is double board certified in rehabilitation and clinical nutrition. He is also a certified nutrition specialist and a licensed dietitian/nutritionist. Thus, he knows his stuff when it comes to healthy living and eating. He suggests sweet Coconut and Cacao Bites as a healthy dessert option.
Click here for Dr. Schreiber's Coconut and Cacao Bites recipe.
Cottage Cheese
Amy Kubal, MS, RDN, LN, suggests "cottage cheese with fresh fruit and a sprinkle of low sugar granola" or "cocoa dusted almonds, mini fruit, and nut bars."
"[R]ight now I am LOVING I Heart Keenwah Quinoa Clusters and Chocolate Puffs — both of these options make great, low sugar desserts that also contain a complete source of protein. They're also great paired with... cottage cheese for an even bigger protein boost."
Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Rene Ficek, a registered dietitian and the lead nutrition expert at Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating, suggests strawberries covered in dark chocolate. Higher percentages of cacao make the chocolate "darker," which means less added sugar.
Dark Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of Belly Fat Diet For Dummies, provides a healthy alternative to traditional chocolate cake.
"Chocolate cake can also be healthy if you know the right ingredient swaps. By simply adding vegetables to the mix, you can cut down on added fat and sugar while boosting the fiber and nutrient content of the dessert," she says.
Click here for her Slimmed-Down Dark Chocolate Zucchini Cake recipe.
Natural Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Edwina Clark, MS, RD, APD, the Head of Nutrition and Wellness at Yummly, suggests having a sandwich composed of two tablespoons of natural peanut butter and half of a banana between two graham cracker squares.
"These mini PB + B bites," she says, "are guaranteed to satiate a sweet tooth without overdoing it. Peanut butter is packed with healthy fats and protein to keep you fuller for longer, while the banana provides a hit of potassium for heart health."
Pumpkin Spice Mini-Muffins
Cynthia Sass, one of the first registered dietitians in the country to be board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, suggests a healthy Pumpkin Spice Mini-Muffins recipe. It's guaranteed to ameliorate your sweet tooth and keep your conscience clear.
Sweet Potato/Banana Pudding
Health coach Sally Eisenberg's Sweet Potato/Banana Pudding recipe is deceptively nutritious. You'd never believe something that tastes so good could be healthy.