Feeling Good: Healthy desserts for a sweet tooth

Feeling Good: Healthy desserts for a sweet tooth

The biggest roadblock I face when eating healthily is my sweet tooth. My favorite thing to do after a long day is to eat a sugary treat. Finding a dessert that satisfies your craving, without adding a whole bunch of calories to your day, is very challenging. The key is to find ingredients that are beneficial and incorporate them into a delicious dessert. For example: walnuts are high in omega-3, which helps with keeping your heart strong, and are essential for your health. Dark chocolate is one of the few sweet treats that is actually good for you all on its own. It’s a strong source of fiber and antioxidants. Here are some recipes that are delightfully sweet but won’t make you feel gross.

 

Fudge-Walnut Brownies

Bonus: These are so wonderfully rich that you will be satisfied after just one!

 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup fat-free milk

6 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Combine 1/2 cup chocolate and milk; microwave on high, or heat on stovetop for one minute, or until chocolate is melted. Stir in butter, vanilla, and eggs. Add milk mixture, other 1/2 cup chocolate, and nuts to the flour mixture; stir to combine. Pour the batter into a 9-inch square metal baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake for 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs clinging.

 

Chocolate-Chip Banana Bread

 

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)

2 large eggs

1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.

Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended, about 1 minute. Add banana, egg, and yogurt; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Microwave or heat the chocolate chips on the stovetop until just melted, about 1 minute. Cool slightly. Pour batter into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.