Forget what you’ve been told— losing weight healthily doesn’t have to mean giving up dessert! We checked in with health and weight loss expert for 2 delicious summer dessert ideas that won’t hinder your health goals or weight loss progress. Read on for tips, suggestions and easy no-bake recipes from registered dietitian Elysia Cartlidge, MAN, RD, founder of Haute & Healthy Living and registered dietitian Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD at Balance One Supplements.
1. Almond Butter Energy Balls
"Toss together some nut butter, nuts/seeds, oats, dark chocolate and protein powder, and you’ve got a high-protein option that tastes just like a treat," Cartlidge says. As a bonus, she notes that "you can make up a batch at the beginning of the week for a quick and easy portable snack and freeze for later." They’re also a good source of healthy fats and fiber, she adds, which "can assist with appetite control."
Ingredients: oats, almond butter, flax seed, dark chocolate chips, vanilla extract, maple syrup, protein powder
Carrot Cake Oats
While this can be eaten as a breakfast food, this sweet treat could also make a great dessert when eaten in a smaller serving size. These carrot cake oats are "nutrient dense when made with the right ingredients and can be very versatile in flavor, texture, and temperature," Best says. The fiber in the oats "helps to keep you feel full and satisfied longer while "also preventing glucose spikes or crashes," she explains, which are "known to cause overeating and weight gain."
Ingredients:
Dry: 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup finely grated carrot, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp allspice, 1 TBSP chia seeds 3 TBSP raisins
Wet: 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 TBSP maple syrup or honey , 1 1/4 cup Plant Milk of Choice (unsweetened)
