Guest Post – Healthier Desserts for the Summertime

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When most of us think of seasons with high fat desserts, we often think of winter where Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to overload us on pies, cookies, and candy. However, summer can be a deceptively unhealthy time as well. Just because you are outdoors doesn’t mean that you should be allowing yourself to frequently indulge in high fat ice creams, creamy pudding desserts, and others cool treats like key lime or french silk pie.

Instead, when you are craving something cool and sweet on a hot summer night, consider giving one of the following healthy snacks a try:

image credit:: www.chiquitabananas.com

Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to cool down during the summer. They are nutrient packed and easy to make, with dozens of banana smoothie recipes being readily available online. Not only are they healthy, but they can range in flavors from a banana pineapple smoothie to a more decadent banana split smoothie so you can easily find one that fits everyone’s palate. Also, because smoothies generally require frozen fruits, you don’t have to worry about fruit spoiling and going to waste, and can easily keep the frozen ingredients on hand to use at any time.

Chocolate Covered Bananas

Bananas seem to go bad quicker than we can consume them in our house, but if you freeze them just as they go ripe, you can keep them longer and enjoy a greater summer snack. If you’ve got a few bananas laying around, peel them, put them on a stick and then freeze them. Once frozen, dip them in chocolate for a great, cool snack that tastes similar to an icecream bar – but with more nutritional value.

Homemade Fruit Pops

When you purchase popsicles from the store, they are not only expensive, especially the all natural ones, but they are also incredibly high in added sugar. To keep the health benefits high while still being able to enjoy a great snack, consider making your own fruit pops. You can add just about any fruit to them to fit your own tastes, and will be a family favorite.

Summertime is a time when most of us focus on getting back in shape. Don’t spoil your efforts by enjoying one too many decadent treats. Instead, focus on eating all those great fruits that come in to season as a sweet treat, and you should be able to give your family a nutritious snack without overloading on calories.

Elizabeth (1812 Posts)

I'm Elizabeth, a 40-something Michigan wife and mother of three. I created Table for Five in 2005 as a way to connect with other Moms, and I've been blogging ever since. Please click the About tab at the top of the page to read more about me and my family! email: table4five@gmail.com

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