Dessert may not seem synonymous with weight loss, but there are certainly some sweet treats that won't curtail your goals.
A nutritionist shared the desserts she enjoys on a weekly basis that are weight-loss-friendly. She is a big fan of homemade whipped cream and strawberries as it's a low-calorie treat that satisfies sweet cravings.
Autumn Bates made the important distinction between the everyday sweet treats she enjoys and the desserts she reserves for special occasions.
She said: "The desserts that I'll occasionally have during the week I view as treats, foods that aren't necessarily refined but might have some sugar in them but it's not a really highly refined, highly processed food.
"Then there are more celebratory and more rare occasion sort of desserts - like my birthday, for example. And on these rare occasions I might have something that does contain more refined food products like flour or sugar that I know will make me feel crummy the next day."
The nutritionist wouldn't tuck into desserts like cookies or cakes on a "consistent basis" - more for special occasions - and she would sooner enjoy a healthier homemade pudding.
Autumn's nutritious desserts are sweet and tasty, however, they don't spike her insulin levels or lead her into a spiral of sugar cravings.
Speaking about her go-to weight-loss-friendly dessert, the nutritionist said: "The dessert I use the most often is whipped cream and berries. I make my own whipped cream with regular heavy cream and a little bit of vanilla extract.
"I whip this up with a hand mixer and pair it with low-sugar fruit, usually strawberries and sometimes raspberries or blueberries.
Weight-loss-friendly desserts
- Strawberries and cream
- Homemade popcorn - with a little butter, olive oil and parmesan cheese
- Dark chocolate - just a couple of squares
- Homemade peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies - using peanut butter as the base as opposed to grains so the glycemic load is lower
- Dark chocolate-covered strawberries
- Cereal - grain-free granola with lots of nuts
- Healthier muffins - using chickpeas as the base for a low glycemic load
- Protein mug cakes
- Homemade strawberry jam and yoghurt - made with frozen strawberries, chia seeds and vanilla extract, no added sugar
- Cheese and homemade jam
- Protein hot chocolate
- Protein ice lollies
The protein-based desserts are made with a base of zero-sugar protein powder. Protein is a key player in creating muscle mass and also helps the body feel fuller for longer.
"This has no sugar apart from the natural sugar that's in the low-sugar fruit but it hits the spot if you're looking for something creamy like ice cream."
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