Sweets don't need to be eliminated when beginning a new and healthy lifestyle. As long as you are mindful of portion size, sugar content, and other added ingredients, it’s completely possible to (moderately) indulge in sweets a couple of times a week--maybe even every day!
If you are interested in healthy baking please check out our Healthy Dessert Recipe Book for just $5.99 here --> https://www.nextgeneration-nutrition.com/product-page/healthy-desserts
Tips for making healthy dessert choices:
By Jenna Cutler
Try Dark Chocolate!
Dark chocolate may taste more bitter than milk chocolate due to its lower sugar content but contains way more health benefits. Dark chocolate is a powerful antioxidant that works to fight off free radicals. While both dark and milk chocolate contain the same amount of calories, dark chocolate (with over 70% cacao) has less carbohydrate and fat content than milk chocolate, making it a better option for weight loss. Dark chocolate also contains higher amounts of fiber, zinc, selenium, potassium, and magnesium--all of which promote gut health and immunity.
Incorporate Fruits
If you’re not a chocolate lover but still get sweet tooths, fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas or apples are great options. Unlike candy, the sugar in fruits is packed intrinsically, meaning they won’t drastically elevate your blood sugar levels. Fruits are also filled with nutrients that candy lacks, like fiber, antioxidants, polyphenols, and possess anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
Bake with Healthier Sugars
Most baked goods are sweetened with the worst types of sugars such as high fructose corn syrup or cane sugar. These sugars are absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream and can lead to insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, and high blood pressure and, thus, should be avoided. Instead, look for or bake with sweeteners like coconut sugar or stevia, or natural sweeteners like monk fruit, agave, honey, or maple syrup. Again, just because these are healthier sugar alternatives doesn’t mean they can be dumped into any recipe--small amounts will go a long way.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t feel like you can’t have dessert, or that having dessert will ruin your progress. It is healthy for your mind and body to indulge appropriately and to not feel deprived of sweets. Check out our recipe blogs for more healthy dessert options and recipes that you can easily incorporate into a balanced, healthy lifestyle!
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Jessica Mantell M.S., C.N.S., L.D.N.
CEO & Founder of NextGeneration Nutrition
NextGeneration Nutrition believes that better health should be accessible to everyone and that we all are able to improve our health through good nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle change. We do not support setting shame-based goals but encourages embracing our bodies, genetics, and personality. Our philosophy is abandoning the “One Size Fits All” mentality to create a personalized wellness plan based on your biological makeup and your lifestyle.
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