For many, desserts are a big part of dinner. You grow up knowing what to expect after a pile of potatoes and lettuces that don’t seem to go down well. A sizable scoop of chocolate pudding is all it takes to wash down any remnants of uninteresting dishes.
As a grown-up, it becomes pretty clear why mum insisted on bland veggies when all you cared about were the sweet desserts. You probably also allow the sweet treats occasionally because they aren’t part of a healthy diet.
But what if you could make healthy desserts that regularly accompany meals without any concerns?
One thing is for sure, your desserts would have to be healthy indeed, which isn’t impossible either. Here are three simple ways you can start making healthier desserts today:
1. Prepare with Fruits
Everything that can make a dessert unhealthy is in the ingredients. If you alter your ingredients and switch them up whenever possible with healthier alternatives, the outcome is a healthier dessert, even if it won’t be quite up to the mark.
For instance, you could switch up processed sweeteners like sugar with honey or maple syrup.
If it isn’t much you change regarding the ingredients, no worries. There’s a better way of boosting nutritional value, and it’s using plenty of fruits where applicable. You need to be a bit creative about it. Fruits, for instance, contain natural flavors and sugars, which you can use instead of additives.
Go ahead and tweak your recipe; figure out what goes with what, and you may surprise yourself. However, you don’t need to make new rules. There are plenty of fruit dessert options you can try and see what you like.
You want to start with simple recipes that introduce you to the world of fruit desserts, and there’s no better candidate than the Raw Berry Cheesecake. It’s made with strawberries, lemon, cashews, raspberries, and coconut milk.
The best part is, no baking is needed!
2. Prepare with Veggies
Much like fruit desserts, vegetable desserts pack a nasty punch of nutritional value. It’s no surprise because we know veggies are the ultimate health foods.
When preparing a vegetable dessert, the same rules apply. The main ingredient should be your favorite leafy green.
Still, you need to consider the other ingredients that make the final product less healthy. Always try replacing sugar with a natural sweetener, if possible. You can also substitute oil with applesauce.
Remember, when it comes to super-healthy desserts, you’re not bound by any rules. Be free to experiment with healthier alternatives. Besides, all of the popular healthy recipes were born out of creativity. Check out this site for nutritious chocolate chip cookie ideas you can play with.
Here’s a tried and tested vegetable dessert recipe you can give a try:
Apple Kale Cake with Apple Frosting
Ingredients:
- Fresh, green kale leaves
- Eggs
- Unsweetened applesauce (if you must, use Canola or Sunflower oils)
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Apples
- Maple syrup
- Salt
- Baking powder
Preparation Method
- Steam and cold-water rinse the kale
- Blend the kale along with eggs, vanilla, applesauce, and maple syrup until it’s all smooth
- Add grated apple into a large mixing bowl, pour in the blended mixture, and stir
- Using a flour sifter, add the flour, salt, and baking powder into the mixture
- Empty the mixture into a prepared pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes
For the frosting, beat applesauce with a bit of butter and any sugar alternative you prefer.
3. Prepare with Herbs
Ever heard of herbal desserts?
Yeah, they are a thing, actually. And that gives us the next category of healthy desserts to start enjoying.
Herbs are not really about nutrition, but they are medicinal. One of the herbs used purely for its medical properties is cannabis. If you’re a user, this page has an interesting cannabis-infused recipe you may love.
Regarding herbs, it’d help to look up which ones make the best desserts. Safe to say, you won’t have any difficulty finding something that feels right for you. This Pineapple Mint Granita, for instance, is a true definition of a healthy and tasty herbal dessert!
Conclusion
The thing about desserts is that no experimenting is too much, so long as it all turns out alright. And considering many of the popular dessert recipes out there are more about gratification than what’s actually good for you, you may want to take a detour and explore healthier options.
