Craving dessert? There’s nothing wrong with an ice cream cone, or even the occasional brownie sundae every now and then, but if you’re someone who has to have something sweet after dinner every night, you may want to look for healthier options. Even just one scoop of ice cream a day can add up to an additional 1,500 calories a week, and that’s a weight gain of nearly 2 pounds a month if you’re not cutting calories elsewhere.
So, what are some healthy substitutions? Try low fat cottage cheese mixed with 1 pack of stevia and cinnamon, or add slices of apples or bananas and a little cocoa powder. If you don’t like cottage cheese, try Greek yogurt. You can even freeze Greek yogurt into popsicle molds for a nice, refreshing treat that’s low in sugar and high in protein.
There are also plenty of frozen items in your local grocery store that are just as satisfying as ice cream, but much healthier. Try an all-natural frozen fruit bar without any added sugar. It’s a cool, sweet treat that is much lower in calories and fat and won’t leave you feeling guilty. Or try one of these homemade fruit bars. Skinny Cow and Weight Watchers also make a lot of lower calorie desserts from ice cream sandwiches to brownie sundaes.
Remember, it’s okay to indulge now and then – just follow the 80/20 rule: Choose healthy dessert options 80% of the time, and treat yourself to your favorite, guilty pleasures the other 20% of the time. Because really, who can resist gelato or an ice cream cone on a hot, summer day?
