Fruit is your Friend

We all have those moments, don’t we? The moment of indecision at night while watching a television show or reading that book you’ve been meaning to get to and then it pops up. That moment.

The moment when you realize you are thinking should I or shouldn’t I have dessert? We know it would be better to cut back on sugar and carbs, but we really crave something sweet sometimes.

Well, you have some very tasty options that are easy, inexpensive and best of all, won’t make you feel like you need to starve yourself for the next week.

The answer is… Fruit.

Okay, so there were some groans from those of you who are thinking – well, of course we can eat fruit, but I never think of it for dessert. That’s something I eat in the morning in my oatmeal (a very good way to get the benefits of fruit, by the way).

Let’s give you a few ways to eat fruit at night that may possibly change the way you look at dessert.

Frozen:

Yes, frozen. Frozen fruit is delicious all by itself and is especially tasty when eaten in the warmer weather months.

A great example of this is to buy large seedless grapes (red or green – your choice) and place fifteen of them in a snack bag and seal it. Do the same with the rest of the grapes you’ve purchased (you can even mix and match them). Once you have a few bags of grapes ready, place them all in a freezer bag and store them on a shelf that is easily accessible. They can be safely stored in the freezer for up to three months. You don’t want to them to be pushed to the back of the freezer – when you have a craving, you need your grapes!!!

We sometimes tend to think that trail mix is for when we are at a sporting event or hiking somewhere. But it’s actually a very easy and adaptable food to make for whatever mood you are in. And if you don’t go crazy with some of the add-ins, you are sure to have a treat for you and your family that will satisfy that hunger for sweets.

Ingredients to have on hand for trail mix:

• Dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, cherries)
• Chunked granola
• Nuts (all kinds, but try not to use too many salted varieties)
• Dark chocolate chips.

The key here is to make a treat that is a little sweet without going overboard. The natural sugars in the dried fruit along with their tangy taste is a good contrast to the nuts, granola and chips. If you don’t want to use some of these ingredients – experiment. But keep the dried fruit in the mix. It is the healthiest way to get the sweetness without a lot of calories. Place the mix in an air-locked container and only scoop out ½ cup or less at a time. It will boost your energy as well as give you a sweet treat.

Parfait:

Slice up a few strawberries, cut some grapes in half and have raspberries, blueberries and/or blackberries available. Layer them in parfait glasses.

In a bowl blend heavy whipping cream (1 cup) until stiff peaks form. Fold in 2 tablespoons honey and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Spoon a dollop onto the fruit and serve. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

These are just a few examples to help you think outside the cookie jar when you are craving sweets. The next time you think sweets, think natural.