Desserts That Make You Lose Weight

Weight loss programs typically restrict the types and amounts of food that you can eat, and you may feel deprived if you are not allowed to eat dessert. Careful planning and smart choices may allow you to eat dessert while sticking to your diet. Just remember that portion sizes are important, and no single food or dessert will make you lose weight.

Fruit

Most fruits make good, naturally sweet desserts for weight loss because they are low in calories, and they are filling because of their water and dietary fiber. Eat a single piece of fruit, such as an apple, pear, orange or peach, or have berries, grapes or cut fruit, such as melons. If you get frozen or canned fruit, make sure that they do not have added sugars, which provide extra calories. Another benefit of fruits are that they provides essential nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin C or vitamin A.

Hot Beverages

Use a low-calorie hot beverage to signal the end of a meal without adding the calories of a regular dessert. Coffee and tea are nearly calorie-free, and you can sweeten them with a packet of artificial, non-nutritive sweetener, such as aspartame or sucralose, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hot chocolate, made with cocoa and sweetener, can satisfy your chocolate cravings instead of high-calorie desserts such as fudge brownies or chocolate ice cream. Make it creamier by adding a small amount of non-fat milk instead of high-fat cream.

Diet Desserts

Sugar-free, fruit-flavored gelatin is low in calories, and it may be a good choice for a weight loss dessert because it is mostly water, which is a natural appetite suppressant, according to the University of Michigan. Other possible diet desserts are fat-free and sugar-free baked goods, puddings and ice creams. Diet desserts are not always low-calorie, so read the label carefully when you purchase them, and eat only one serving.

Yogurt

Fat-free yogurt is a low-calorie alternative to ice cream or frozen yogurt. It is high in protein, which is a nutrient that slows digestion so that you stay full for longer after your meal. This can help you lose weight because you may eat less at the next meal. Flavored yogurt with added sugars can be high in calories, so choose plain yogurt and add your own fruit or cinnamon to flavor it, or buy no sugar-added, low-calorie yogurt with artificial sweetener.