No problem. To continue my theme of guiltless indulgences, here are 7 desserts with no sugar added. Dig in!
1. Cherries with Ricotta & Toasted
Almonds
Warm cherries topped with luscious ricotta cheese and toasted
almonds makes for a rich-tasting—yet calorie-conscious—treat.
3/4 cup frozen pitted cherries
2 tablespoons part-skim ricotta
1 tablespoon toasted slivered almonds
Heat cherries in the microwave on High until warm, 1 to 2 minutes. Top the cherries with ricotta and almonds.
Makes 1 serving.
Per serving: 150 calories; 6 g fat (2 g sat, 3 g mono); 10 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrates; 6 g protein; 39 mg sodium; 329 mg potassium.
2. Quick “Cheesecake”
Schmear ricotta cheese and your favorite jam on graham crackers for
an instant "cheesecake." To really make this a dessert
without added sugar, choose a jam that doesn’t have any sugar
listed in the ingredient list.
4 whole-wheat graham crackers
4 tablespoons part-skim ricotta cheese
8 teaspoons jam
Spread each graham cracker with 1 tablespoon part-skim ricotta cheese and 2 teaspoons jam.
Makes 2 servings, 2 “cheesecakes” each.
Per serving: 239 calories; 6 g fat (2 g sat, 1 g mono); 10 mg cholesterol; 42 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 259 mg sodium; 39 mg potassium.
3. Pina Colada Yogurt Parfait
Take a trip to the tropics with our pina colada-inspired parfait.
It even makes a great breakfast when you need a sunny start to your
day.
1/3 cup reduced-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup crushed canned pineapple or canned mandarin oranges
1 tablespoon toasted coconut (see Tip)
Top yogurt with pineapple (or canned mandarin oranges) and coconut.
Makes 1 serving.
Tip: To toast coconut: Place coconut in a small dry skillet and cook, stirring often, until golden, about 5 minutes or spread in a shallow baking dish and bake at 350°F until light golden and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes.
Per serving (with pineapple): 155 calories; 3 g fat (3 g sat); 4 mg cholesterol; 28 g carbohydrates; 5 g protein; 57 mg sodium; 325 mg potassium.
4.
Broiled Mango
Broiling fruit brings out its inherent sweetness. A squeeze of tart
lime juice balances it out. Try this technique with pineapple as
well.
5.
Cocoa-Nut Bananas
Cocoa- and coconut-crusted bananas are a treat for the whole
family.
6.
Melon-Apple Granita
This granita uses sweet ripe melon for flavor, apple juice instead
of sugar and a touch of lime juice to perk up the flavors.
7.
Frosted Grapes
These frozen grapes are healthy mini-popsicles. Try freezing other
fresh fruit, too, like raspberries or cubes of watermelon.
By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.
Brierley’s interest in nutrition and food come together in her position as an associate editor at EatingWell. Brierley holds a master’s degree in Nutrition Communication from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. A Registered Dietitian, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Vermont.
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