Satisfying Your Sweet Tooth

I think it is safe to say that life is too short to live without sweets. The allure of ice cream on a hot summer day or a mid afternoon chai latte is a vice not many people can resist. However, fast forward an hour later and the dreaded sugar crash hits. What a cruel fate.

Surprisingly, you can satisfy your sweet tooth without getting that crash. By pairing sugars with something high in healthy fats or fiber, it slows the absorption of sugar. This prevents the huge spike in blood sugar and the ultimate crash. Luckily, it’s easy to create a decadent dessert while keeping sugar to a minimum. It is also important to limit your sugar to protect your teeth! That goes double for kids who are drawn to sugary delights. It is good to indulge, but make sure you and your family have regular check-ups at the dentist, click here for some assistance in finding one, so you are not having to get fillings each time you go! Anyway, check out the list below for some dessert options that won’t leave you lethargic or crunching sugar an hour later.

At home

1. Dark chocolate and nut butter. Think Reese’s peanut butter cups, but upgraded. Break off a couple pieces of dark chocolate (make sure it is over 85% cocoa) and slather on a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter. My favorite combo is cashew butter and Lily’s dark chocolate, which you can buy at the Whole Grocer. Any nut butter works great, but make sure there are no added oils or sugars!
2. Berries with cream. There is nothing that takes me back to my youth like strawberry shortcake. However, in my adult life, I’ve realized that it’s maybe not the best decision to have cake every night before bed. So, I’ve come up with a solution: cut a few fresh strawberries and top with a dollop of Siggi’s plain, whole milk yogurt. If you want, you can even use frozen berries and blend in a Vitamix for an easy sorbet!
3. Chia seed pudding. This one takes a little forethought but is totally worth the effort. Combine one cup unsweetened almond milk with 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Stir in three tablespoons of chia seeds and place in the refrigerator for 8 hours to allow the chia seeds to soak up the almond milk and make a pudding. When done, top with 1/4 cup of blueberries.
4. Protein packed smoothie. This is a super easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth, while also getting in healthy fats and protein. My favorite combination is chocolate protein powder, nut milk, a tablespoon of nut butter and half a frozen banana. Add a few ice cubes and blend on high for half a minute. The result is a thick, delicious, frozen mixture that will give you the feeling of eating ice cream.

Dining out

The Phoenix and the Dragon offers a delicious version of lactose free ice cream.

Here are our top three guilt-free dessert options around town:

1. The vegan “cheesecake” at Healthy Being Juicery and Cafe is every bit as decadent as the original. See how it’s made by viewing this Dishing video.
2. Have you tried the new Cultivate Cafe? We love pairing their thumbprint “cookies” with our morning coffee. Like all the menu items at Cultivate, their baked goods use only organic, high-quality ingredients, and they’re gluten-free! Learn more about the new cafe here.
3. Over on Glenwood Street, The Phoenix and the Dragon is dishing out creamy vanilla soft serve that is lactose-free, and comes with a unique array of topping combinations. Think matcha green tea powder or pineapple with honey and black tea compote.