When people want to lose weight, one of the first things they cut out is dessert. After all, you assume that indulging in a treat typically high in sugar, fat, and calories will derail all of the hard work they’ve done to fit into their skinny jeans. But what if we told you that you could eat desserts for Weight Loss
Let yourself indulge in dessert on the regular though, and you may start to skip second and third helpings to save room for your treat. As long as you don’t overdo it on dessert, this could reduce your overall calorie intake and ultimately result in weight loss, says Vicki Shanta Retelny, Chicago-based registered dietitian nutritionist.
But don’t just give your sweet tooth anything it wants. Set aside no more than 200 calories per day for dessert, and choose a treat that doubles as a weight loss weapon. It should be portion-controlled and include all of the most satisfying nutrients: high-fiber carbs, protein, and a little bit of fat
You can. These tasty treats will not only help satisfy your sweet tooth, but also help you slim down. Low in calories, packed with protein, or chock-full of fiber, these desserts can help accelerate your weight-loss goals, especially if you enjoy them within your daily calorie allowance. If you’re looking to start off your day just as healthy as you end it, check out our desserts for Weight Loss
Simple ingredient swaps will enable you to enjoy your beloved indulgences and still lose weight, while clever preparations of your favorite fruits transforms them into diet-friendly desserts. A baked apple or raspberry coconut water ice pop is nutritious and easy to prepare, but won’t weigh you down. Other variations of classic treats include chickpea cookie dough, vegan cheesecake, and avocado chocolate pudding. Although it’s gratifying to look good for the summer beach crowd, losing weight is all about feeling good — and who can really feel good without some decadent desserts in their life.
Dessert is a delicious opportunity to step back and truly enjoy life. When you are trying to responsibly manage your weight, it can feel less like a joyous opportunity and more like a moment to throw away all the day’s work. Fortunately, it is possible to have the best of both worlds. Thankfully, weight loss desserts do exist. Here are some excellent sweet treats that can actually help you reach your weight loss goals!
Best Desserts for Weight Loss
Skinny Avocado Chocolate Mousse
This decadent mousse makes for a perfect dinner party dessert and really does taste as indulgent as it looks.
Whilst there may be a tendency to worry about using avocado within sweet treats, in actual fact avocado is the secret ingredient to the desserts rich and velvety texture.
Avocados are not only bursting with nutrients and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats but there is also evidence to show that they may support weight loss. One study demonstrated that those who ate half an avocado with their lunch felt 23% more satisfied and had a 28% lower desire to eat over the next 5 hours.
Chocolate Pudding
While I’m a huge dessert fan, as a registered-dietitian nutritionist and healthy-recipe blogger I’m always looking for ways to whip up a sweet treat with nutritious ingredients. That’s how this vegan chocolate pudding came to be. It’s made with just bananas, powdered peanut butter (unsweetened), and coconut. The bananas provide blood-pressure-helping potassium, and the peanut butter adds protein to keep you feeling satiated. I promise you won’t miss the sugary version. Don’t miss these additional vegan dessert recipes.
Ingredient Blueberry and Lavender Vegan Cheesecake
I bet you’re wondering how cheesecake can be vegan — the secret is all in the cashews. This recipe ingeniously blends together raw cashews, coconut milk, and coconut oil to make a creamy filling that mimics the taste and texture of any New York-style cheesecake. The crust for these cakes uses only dates and walnuts (or almonds), bypassing any butter, cream, or flour.
Lemon Mousse With Strawberries
Grab yourself a delicious spoonful of sunshine. This light and creamy delicacy makes for a great solution to those summertime sweet tooth cravings.
Frozen Berry Popsicles
This super simple dessert takes a few minutes to whiz together and makes a great choice for a summer day.
The combination of the protein-rich yogurt, low sugar berries and insulin sensitising cinnamon, makes this the no.1 dessert for balancing blood sugar.
By stepping off the blood sugar roller coaster, you may minimise weight gain and further cravings for sugary indulgences.
Fruit Salad With Orange Blossom Water
If you’re looking for a refreshing treat, how about a fruit dessert with a twist? This fruit salad with orange blossom water isn’t any ordinary fruit salad, says Lindsey Pine, MS, RDN, a certified sports dietitian in Los Angeles. “The orange blossom water and fresh chopped mint elevate the fruit to a whole new level with an intoxicating floral aroma,” she says. “Melons contribute so much nutrition, including fiber and antioxidants—such as the healthy vision-promoting antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.” Prefer a salad with berries, mango, kiwi, grapes, and oranges? Fork into this California fruit salad from Heather Bainbridge, EdM, MA, RDN, a private practice dietitian in Bucks County, PA.
Avocado Chocolate Pudding
This is a fabulous dessert, with no added oil or refined sugar. The sweetness of dates and banana combine into a pudding consistency with avocados. Serve it with fresh berries for an additional healthy touch!
Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake
Pistachio Chocolate Banana Sushi
Dip one banana into good quality dark chocolate, place onto a plate and sprinkle over crushed pistachios. Slice into sushi pieces and then place into fridge to set. This sushi dessert can be eaten with chopsticks.
First things first, bananas contain very few calories, around 100 max, yet they’re full of fibre so can be filling at the same time. Increasing your fibre intake from fruit and vegetables has repeatedly been shown by science to help with weight loss.
Healthy Energy Bites
Naturally sweet, apricot- and date-sweetened treats make a healthy dessert. These healthy energy bites “take only 10 minutes to make and are perfect for an after-dinner treat or anytime you need a quick, yet sustainable burst of energy,” says EA Stewart, RD, an integrative dietitian in San Diego. Or try these almond-pistachio cocoa bites, with a hint of chocolate and a base of almond butter—they offer a satiating combo of protein, fiber, and healthy fat. Can’t get enough chocolate? Whip up chocolate walnut orange bites from Rachel Begun, MS, RDN, a culinary nutritionist in Los Angeles.
“They are so rich in flavor, you won’t believe they are healthy,” she says. “The combination of cocoa powder, orange rind, ginger, walnuts, and Medjool dates makes for a sophisticated flavor profile while also providing all the health benefits.”
Baked Apple
Sometimes all you need is a little heat from the oven to turn a banal fruit into a creamy and decadent dessert. After it’s baked, an apple loses its tartness and becomes soft and soufflé-like. Granny Smith and Red Prince apples are good varieties for baking. Remove the core after baking and stuff with some cinnamon, raisins, or vanilla ice cream to make it even more indulgent.
Lemony Yogurt Pound Cake
How many ways can you say yum? This bread delight uses the best of the yogurt world to make something you can feel good about consuming. The lemon will dance on your tongue as you sing the praises of this impressive recipe.
Apple Slice Cookies
1 red apple sliced, topped with 1 tbsp peanut or almond butter, dark chocolate chips, coconut flakes and walnut pieces.
It’s conventional wisdom to associate dieting with living off low calorie vegetable sticks and whilst many would shy away from the higher calorie nuts, they are in fact a dieter’s best friend.
Numerous studies have shown that just a handful of nuts a day can significantly reduce hunger, leading to a lower overall calorie intake throughout the day. These effects boil down to their protein and fibre content which both have satiating properties.
And there really is nothing tastier than an apple topped with a dollop of indulgent nut butter and some healthy toppings to give it that extra crunch.
Frozen Mochaccino
Love Frappuccinos but not the high sugar and calories that come with the decadent coffee drinks? I make this frozen mochaccino (essentially a lightened-up Frappuccino) whenever I have a craving for a frozen coffee drink. It’s sweetened only with cocoa powder and fruit—and because it’s creamy with Greek yogurt, it offers 25 grams of fueling protein. Split the dessert drink into two or three portions, and share it with family members or friends. Here are some more low-sugar desserts that are sugar savvy.
Blueberry and Yogurt Ice Pops
These beautiful, simple-to-make yogurt pops accentuate the brightness of fresh blueberries. While they are perfect for a warm day, their nutritional profile is so well balanced that you could even take one out of the freezer for breakfast. With fewer than 150 calories per serving, these pops really do bridge the gap between health food and dessert.
Marbled Banana Bread
If you’ve got some extra bananas, then I have got the recipe for you. This delicious confection makes for the perfect healthy grab-and-go sweet delight. It’s fun to look at and even more fun to consume.
5 Minute 100% Mango Sorbet
At 35 calories per scoop, you can’t really go wrong when it comes to sorbets.
Try making your sorbet with 100% fruit for a lower sugar and higher fibre dessert.
Italian-Style Panna Cotta
Add this Italian-inspired treat to your healthy desserts list. “This perfectly portioned spring panna cotta dessert is made with Truvia Natural Sweetener, a calorie-free sweetener from the stevia leaf,” says Toby Amidor, MS, RD, a best-selling cookbook author who lives in New York City. “The dessert has 25 percent fewer calories and 66 percent less sugar than regular sugar-sweetened panna cotta. It also contains an array of berries, providing anti-inflammatory antioxidants called anthocyanins.
Research shows these may help ward off diabetes and help keep eyes healthy. This panna cotta tastes great without the added calories and sugar.” Here are some more yummy holiday desserts that are diet-friendly.
Chai, Raspberry, and Coconut Porridge Slices
Hastily-made microwave oatmeal is mushy, boring, and bland. Transform rolled oats into a hearty, sweet snack by mixing them with non-dairy milk, maple syrup, and fresh raspberries and baking the mixture in the oven. The porridge slices are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Grab one for breakfast as you’re hustling out the door.
Broiled Banana Split
Caramelize that banana and add some delicious berries. Combine this with a bit of nuts and a smidgen of ice cream, and you have perfection on a plate. Get excited.
Chia Pudding
Soak 4 tsp chia seeds in 250ml almond, coconut or regular milk overnight, with a small drizzle of honey and a pinch of cinnamon.
If you’re feeling lazy, you can also pick up a 160 calorie Chia Co Chia Pod dessert from any major supermarket within the UK.
These little super seeds so are much more than just another craze. They are what gives this dessert its 6g fibre and 4g protein per serving! Fibre can increase the feeling of fullness which is exactly what you need for weight loss.
No-Sugar-Added Fruit and Nut Quick Bread
Whip up a loaf of this quick bread for dessert tonight, then serve a slice with a scoop of plain Greek yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast tomorrow. “This delicious, elegant, gluten-free bread is packed with fiber for digestive health, protein to support many bodily functions, and heart-healthy fat,” says Elizabeth Ward, MS, RD, author of Expect the Best. “It’s sweetened with ripe bananas, so you don’t need added sugar to feel satisfied.” Use raisins instead of dried cranberries, which are typically sugared.
Chickpea Cookie Dough
Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein, with a whopping 15 grams of protein per cup. They also happen to be a rich source of dietary fiber, which can help control your blood sugar levels and slow down digestion. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and can be used as a dip or on its own. You can actually enjoy eating the cookie dough without the guilt!
Pumpkin Brulee Cheesecake
Made with canned pumpkin, low-fat cream-cheese, and some protein-packed yogurt, this recipe is ready to help you in your weight loss journey. Enjoy some epic flavor and some healthy fun.
Frozen Yogurt Strawberries
Simply dip strawberries in yogurt, place on tray and freeze.
Strawberries score low on both the calorie and sugar scale, which is great news for dieters.
By coating your strawberries in natural yoghurt with live cultures, you will also receive your daily dose of good bacteria. There is some super exciting emerging research suggesting that gut bacteria may have significant effects on body weight.
High-Fiber Flatbread Cinnamon Roll
Cinnamon rolls seem so decadent, but this version isn’t. “This high-fiber cinnamon roll recipe satisfies your sweet tooth with no added sugar,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of 2-Day Diabetes Diet. “The combination of the fiber, protein, and cinnamon help stabilize blood sugar levels and combat cravings with only 94 calories per serving.” Use plain Greek yogurt instead of flavored and Flatout Light Original Flatbread to ensure this recipe contains no added sugar.
Grilled Fruit
A little kiss of fire adds elegance and depth to fruit. The heat of the grill unlocks another dimension of sweetness, and goes particularly well with heartier stone fruits. You can pair grilled peaches with balsamic vinegar and mascarpone cheese, or season the fruit with maple syrup and warm spices like cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, and cumin to make these grilled fruit skewers with spicy maple glaze.
Baked Pears With Walnuts And Cinnamon
Slice the pear in half, scoop out seeds, sprinkle with cinnamon and crushed walnuts. Place in oven (170 degrees Celsius) for 30 mins. Optional – serve with natural yoghurt.
This is a perfect low-calorie dessert for those colder evenings when you’re craving something more comforting and warming. The walnuts give this dish a tasty crunch whilst providing a good dose of protein and fibre.
It is this protein and fibre that slows the rate at which sugar enters the bloodstream and ultimately reduces output of the fat storage hormone insulin.
Apple Cinnamon Raisin Sorghum Bake
Get some of your daily fruit intake from this fiber-packed dessert. “I love this sorghum bake because it’s sweet from natural fruit and juice,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club. “It’s also gluten-free and vegan, making it an easy dish to please a party crowd.”
Yogurt Parfait
A yogurt parfait takes all the best aspects of an ice cream sundae and pairs them with rich, protein- and probiotic-packed Greek yogurt. Layering fresh fruit, crunchy granola, chia seeds, or a spoonful of preserves adds a textural component that will keep you (and your mouth) interested bite after bite. Yogurt parfaits can be made ahead of time making them an ideal breakfast item for rushed breakfasts.
