by Ashlee Lamar
Did you know that 45 percent of Americans make resolutions for New Year’s? Eating healthier and diet-related changes are often at the top of the list of resolutions.
If your resolution falls into this category, you’re in luck. Here’s a list of healthier ways to satisfy your sweet tooth this year:
1. Fresh Fruit with Dark Chocolate (70 percent cacao or more).
Combine strawberries, blueberries or your other favorite fruit with a 1 ounce serving of shaved dark chocolate. Dark chocolate provides antioxidants called flavones which can be beneficial towards heart health. The higher percentage cacao, the higher it is in flavonoids (look for 70 percent cacao or more).
2. 2 Minute Apple Pie
Slice an apple into 7 or 8 wedges, sprinkle with cinnamon and microwave on high for 2 minutes or until tender. The sugar from the heated apple provides extra sweetness without requiring additional sugar.
3. Heart Smart Trail Mix
Combine ½ cup Cheerios, 1 tablespoon walnuts, 1 tablespoon cranberries and 1 tablespoon of chopped dark chocolate. The walnuts provide Omega-3, a healthy fat, and the dark chocolate is a great source of flavones.
4. Mock Carrot Cake Parfait
Place ½ cup of vanilla or plain flavored, low fat Greek yogurt in a bowl. Top with ¼ cup shredded carrots, 1 tablespoon of raisins, 1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts and 1 tablespoon of shredded pineapple. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
5. Healthy Chocolate Sundae
Combine ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt (or low fat vanilla frozen yogurt) with 1 ounce dark chocolate and 1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts.
6. Choco-Peanut Butter Popcorn
Pop small bag popcorn (look for the “natural, no added butter version”). Top with 1 tablespoon melted peanut butter and a sprinkle of cocoa powder.
7. Homemade Banana Split
Slice a banana in half lengthwise. Top with 2 spoonfuls Greek yogurt, a sprinkle of cocoa and a cherry if desired.
Ashlee Lamar is a registered dietitian at Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan.