Healthy Desserts That Won’t Ruin Your Diet

Indulge yourself without feeling guilty with these healthy treats

When you’re on a diet, you tend to restrict yourself to only healthy foods, leading you to cross desserts entirely off your list. However, being on a diet doesn’t mean eating dessert is totally out of the question. In fact, allowing a small daily indulgence can help curb any cravings you might have.

Here are some delicious yet healthy desserts that won’t ruin your diet but will leave you feeling satisfied.

Yogurt parfait
A yogurt parfait is an ideal way to get a sweet fix, while also watching caloric intake. Combine a flavorful, yet low-fat yogurt with a variety of fresh fruits like berries or melon. Then, top this concoction off with either a drizzle of honey or the much-needed crunch of granola. The resulting parfait will leave you feeling full without adding majorly to your calorie count.

Frozen banana sandwich
For the peanut butter-lover, a frozen banana sandwich is the healthy dessert of choice. They’re easy to make, too. Cut a banana into individual, round pieces. Place a small amount of peanut butter between two pieces, making a small sandwich. Then, freeze them. After an hour or so in the freezer, these protein-packed banana sandwiches are ready to eat. They almost taste like banana ice cream sandwiches, which is the perfect way to end the day without worrying about calories.

Apple and peanut butter
An apple is the perfect vessel to indulge in peanut butter. To create the perfect apple-and-peanut-butter dessert, chop up an apple and place it in a bowl. Then, heat up one serving (usually two tablespoons) of peanut butter in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or until melted. Drizzle the peanut butter onto the apples, and then top it off with a serving size of dark chocolate chips. This dessert will satisfy your sweet tooth, while making sure you’re not frowning when it comes time to weigh yourself.

Dessert smoothies
A dessert smoothie is a healthy, filling and sweet indulgence. Combine a variety of fruits to create the dessert of your dreams. Consider adding other flavors like vegetable juice or flavored yogurt. Even a dollop of peanut butter is a great addition to a dessert smoothie. No matter what is added, a smoothie is a healthy way to satisfy the need for dessert.

Dark chocolate
Who knew chocolate could be healthy? According to Women’s Health magazine, chocolate is considered a superfood, which means it has a number of health benefits. Cacao, which is dark chocolate’s main ingredient, can help heart health. Because of this, eating chocolate that has at least 70% cacao in it is beneficial to one’s wellbeing.

Women’s Health also mentions a study from the University of Copenhagen which found that dark chocolate is more filling and can help increase weight loss. So, if you are looking to indulge, consider eating a small portion of dark chocolate for your dessert.

Even if you’re on a diet, it’s easy to satisfy your sweet tooth. One of the most important ideas to keep in mind, though, is to use portion control and to not overindulge. Enjoy these healthy treats in moderation and you will begin seeing results without sacrificing your happiness.