Giving up sweets completely makes a diet more difficult for many people. Instead, focus on finding healthy, sweet treats to finish off your meals without completely abandoning healthy eating principles. Keep the basic ingredients on hand to whip up a healthy dessert when you feel the sweet cravings. Like all foods, limit the portions of your healthy desserts to support your weight loss.
Broiled Fruit
Fruit is often served raw, but broiling brings out the natural sugars for a caramelized effect. The broiling process enhances the flavor of the fruit, making it feel like more of a dessert. "Eating Well" suggests broiling mangoes by peeling and slicing the fruit. Spray the mango slices with lemon or lime juice before broiling eight to 10 minutes, or long enough for browned spots to appear. Broiling also works with bananas and stone fruit like peaches. Add a dab of butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar or cinnamon if desired.
Crepes
Crepes provide the shell for a simple dessert. Read the nutritional label if you purchase pre-made crepes to keep the calorie and fat content low. Fill the crepes with fresh berries to keep the dessert as healthy as possible. Caramelized bananas or cooked apples also work as a healthy filling for the crepes. A drizzle of honey or agave nectar adds sweetness if the fruit isn't sweet enough on its own. Add a small dab of low-fat or fat-free whipped cream if desired.
Ricotta
Low-fat ricotta cheese makes a creamy base for a simple, healthy dessert. Add a drizzle of vanilla extract and a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar to the ricotta to sweeten it. Honey or agave nectar also are sweetener options. Add a tablespoon of chopped nuts and your choice of fruits, such as cherries, banana slices and berries, to round out the flavors of the dessert. "Eating Well" also suggests a healthier version of tiramisu with the sweetened ricotta spread between two espresso-soaked ladyfingers.
Frozen Fruit Puree
Pureeing frozen fruit in the blender creates a sorbet-like dessert that is low in calories. Cut your favorite fruit into chunks and freeze it for a few hours. Options include watermelon, mango, peaches and berries. Place the frozen fruit chunks with fresh lemon or lime juice and a drizzle of honey for sweetness. Blend the fruit until the mixture is smooth but not liquefied.
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