Calm Your Cravings With Sweet Snacks Without Added Sugar

There are a wide range of healthy treats that taste as sweet as sugar – without the damaging side effects.

Ice cream without cream or sugar

If you love ice cream, you can still get that sweet, luscious, creamy texture without downing a pint of Ben and Jerry’s.

The recipe: Freeze several ripe bananas – under-ripe bananas won’t give you the sweetness you’re looking for – until they’re firm. Toss them in a food processor with a dash of pure vanilla extract and blend until the mixture takes on the texture of ice cream. You can add nuts or cocoa powder for added decadence.

Cheesecake with a twist

If you dream of cheesecake drizzled with sweet berry sauce, you don’t have to go without your favorite treat. Instead, use Greek yogurt and a handful of other ingredients to create a rich, flavorful dessert that tastes as great as cheesecake, with lots of protein and not a bit of added sugar.

The recipe: Two cups plain Greek yogurt, 4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of liquid stevia and ½ teaspoon of lemon zest. Using a hand mixer, blend until the mixture is creamy and well-blended. For the sauce, place a pint of blueberries, a half-cup of water, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and stevia to taste in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens and the berries burst. Cool before drizzling over cheesecake mixture.

A breakfast smoothie that nourishes the skin

If you are used to starting your day with something sweet – a donut or French toast drenched in syrup – you can get your sweet fix with this healthy – and filling – Zupafood smoothie. It’s a perfect way to start the day, and will provide you the energy that you need for your favorite activities, and won’t drag you down with too many quickly-digested carbs, which may leave you feeling as if you ought to have a nap. It is packed full of antioxidants and marine collagen for skin rejuvenation and tastes amazing with watermelon!

The recipe: A quarter of a watermelon, blend with half a glass of coconut water and a packet of Zupafood SKIN.

Just peachy

Fruit crisps are delicious, but they can also be laden with sugar, making them a treat that comes with a steep price. Our version is sugar-free and just as tasty, and can be served as a dessert or for breakfast or as part of a relaxing Sunday brunch.

The recipe: Peel, pit and slice 7 to 8 cups of peaches. Toss with 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/3 cup granulated stevia, 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt and 2/3 cup apple and cucumber juice. Spread into a glass casserole dish and top with a mix of 1 cup of old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup chopped, toasted pecans, 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil, 1 tablespoon granulated stevia and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Bake in an oven at 350 degree F. for 50 to 60 minutes, until the topping is crisp and toasted and fruit is bubbly with a thickened sauce.

Hitting the trails

Trail mix can help satisfy a sweet tooth and an appetite thanks to the protein in the nuts.

The recipe: Mix banana chips with walnuts, dried apricots with pecans, or dried blueberries with almonds, or toss them all together for a mix of flavors, textures and nutrients. Make sure your ratio of fruit to nuts is one to four.

Try these recipes out and let us know what you think. We would also love for you to share your own family recipes with us.

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References:

1. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/slideshow.asp?show=60
2. http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/04/stevia-sweetened-pumpkin-pudding-dairy-free/
3. http://sweetleaf.com/fruit-crisp/