The one perfect food to make all your desserts healthier

By Shyla Cadogan, RD

Dessert is delicious, so no wonder we find it hard to say no to a sweet treat! When you think dessert, the word “healthy” probably doesn’t come to mind. Most desserts are overwhelmingly filled with carbs that taste great but don’t really keep you full and make it easy to overeat. That’s why it’s hard to stop at just one cookie.

If you have a sweet tooth, you might feel like dessert is something you have to get rid of just to stay on track with your health goals. That’s not true! It’s more about making some tweaks to bump up the nutrition, like adding Greek yogurt. I don’t mean eating a thick slice of cake and adding Greek yogurt to the bowl and calling it healthy. I mean making Greek yogurt an integral part of the dessert.

Greek yogurt is a tangy, creamy variety of yogurt that can be used in a variety of dishes and cuisines, even desserts. It’s different from regular yogurt in that it goes through a straining process that removes the whey to create a thick texture and increase the protein content.

Protein is the most filling macronutrient, so incorporating Greek yogurt can make you less likely to overeat your treats. One cup of the nonfat variety has around 17 grams of protein. Not to mention, Greek yogurt is rich in calcium, B12, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium, making it an overall stellar choice.

You can use it as a base for “cookie dough” recipes or make sweet dips out of it by adding some honey, cinnamon, and/or cacao powder. You can even substitute some oil and butter out of traditional cake, muffins, or dessert bread recipes for Greek yogurt as well. It actually brings a nice, moist texture to baked goods! Even just making a parfait by adding your favorite fruit and other toppings is a great idea for a satisfying dessert.

A popular TikTok treat is Greek yogurt bark. To make it, you mix yogurt with sweetener and vanilla before spreading it on a baking sheet and going crazy with your favorite toppings. I’ve seen people do low sugar chocolate chips, berries, granola, and various fruits. Freeze for a few hours and then cut into pieces before digging in!

Bottom Line

Don’t be afraid to get creative with Greek yogurt. It packs a great nutritional punch while bringing more satisfaction to your treat! Eating the “real thing” occasionally without making a high-protein swap is not the end of the world. But if you need daily treats, including more Greek yogurt and making your sweet tooth fix at home is a game changer.

Source: Study Finds

Shyla Cadogan is a DMV-Based acute care Registered Dietitian. She holds specialized interests in integrative nutrition and communicating nutrition concepts in a nuanced, approachable way.

Read more from Shyla

Image: Pixabay

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