Extended family trying to eat healthy-what's a GREAT healthy dessert I can bring for Easter?

[HappyGrace]

I'm so glad because the relatives we'll spend Easter with are trying to be healthier (we eat quite healthy too.)

 

Trying to eat healthy at holiday time is new for all of us-what is a yummy but festive and very healthy dessert I can bring for Easter? I thought about a raw strawberry pie, but it would be very expensive w/ so many nuts in it.

 

http://phytofoods.bl...ry-pie-yum.html

 

We have no food allergies, etc. Hoping for something with no or very low sugar, not a ton of fat, etc. But I don't want to do anything lame like a fruit salad-need something more special since it's Easter!

 

I want to make it really, really yummy so they will want to continue w/ eating healthy. One of these people is my dear stepfather, and he is very overweight at almost 400 lbs (we are seriously concerned for his health), and he has been doing so well changing his habits. I want to encourage him especially that holiday eating can still be just as enjoyable and yummy with healthy foods. That's why this dessert is so important-it will make or break the healthy holiday eating for him (this is the first time he has even tried), and I don't want him to give up!

 

If it matters, we're having a small farm-raised ham (I know, I know, ham isn't that healthy-but the kids want to keep that tradition and we're only having a small portion.), asparagus w/ lemon, and a quinoa side dish.

 

Thanks!

[Jennifer in MI]

Fresh berries. If you want a little bit of sweet - try this recipe:

 

1 package of cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

1 t. vanilla extract

1 1/2 t. Grand Marnier

 

Whip ingredients together. Enjoy!! I've made it with less sugar and it tastes just fine.

[HappyGrace]

Not sure the cream cheese would be good, even the light version. Sounds yummy though! Thanks!

[Mom-ninja.]

Actually the cream cheese would be fine.....the sugar is what would be the problem. Can you tell I'm a HFLC believer? :lol:

 

There are tons and tons of sites with dessert recipes that are healthy or (healthier) for you. You can start at Elana's Pantry for starters.

[HappyGrace]

Thanks-I know I could google- I guess I was just hoping for some tried and true recipes from WTMers! :)

 

ETA: ooooo, I love Elana's Pantry though-just checking it out-we're trying to do higher protein, less carbs, more veggies, etc.-looks great! thanks

[HappyGrace]

Yes, I think maybe I can find something on Elana's Pantry. We don't care about fat from nuts, etc.-it's more like the sugar and high dairy fat (butter, cheeses), etc.

[Unicorn.]

This black and white angel food cakes looks yummy! http://www.cookinglight.com/entertaining/holidays-occasions/easter-desserts-00412000070781/

 

I make a berry crisp, using frozen strawberries, blueberries, cherries, add a bit of cinnamon (you could add ginger and/or nutmeg too), add maybe a tablespoon of sugar, and then sprinkle on an oatmeal crisp topping, and bake. My family loves it. Not a lot of calories, not too much sugar. I don't have exact measurements, but I use enough fruit to make it in a 13x9.

[Annie]

How about baked pears or apples? Something like this could probably be adjusted to fit your needs:

 

http://www.health.com/health/recipe/0,,10000001540258,00.html

 

I would probably cut down on the super sugary dried cranberries. I think a bit of nice maple syrup would be yummier than the sugar.

[Jennifer in MI]

Not sure the cream cheese would be good, even the light version. Sounds yummy though! Thanks!

 

 

If you are trying to go higher protein, the cream cheese would be fine! Kleine Hexe is right - it's the sugar that might be a problem. Find out if a little sugar will be an issue. If so, I'd just go with berries. They are so pretty and always popular around this house anyway!

[AnIslandGirl]

How about an old fashioned (maybe sugar free if that's your thing) jello mold? Made with fresh fruit and natural juice, it can be a low calorie option and is colorfully festive.

[OH_Homeschooler]

Simple is best! A good fruit salad or cut up fruit plate would be great.

[OH_Homeschooler]

Simple is best! A good fruit salad or cut up fruit plate would be great.

[Miss Peregrine]

I would do chocolate covered strawberries. Just melt semi- sweet chocolate chips in a glass bowl over boiling water. Dip strawberries and put on wax paper. Put in fridge for 15 minutes. Very little sugar and so good.

[Spy Car]

Poached or baked Quince. Sort of like poached or baked Pears or Apples, only better.

 

Bill

[Joyofsixreboot]

My Easter dessert will most likely be Angel food cake with mixed berries on the side and cooked custard to top or not as you choose and perhaps some shaved chocolate for sprinkling. My thought is you don't want to feel too deprived on a holiday or you might think "I can't live like this". A small, healthier indulgence outweighs giving up.

[Julie in Austin]

I was going to say dark chocolate covered strawberries. These are beautiful, fancy, and quite healthy if you go easy on the chocolate.

 

Another option is to freeze fruit, run it through a good food processor, and serve as "ice cream."

[Spy Car]

 

 

Yeah good luck finding quince in some parts of the country though.

 

Can you get Quince easily?

 

Bill

[Susan C.]

We are all thin, and eat butter, cream cheese, whole milk, cream, etc.

 

If you make a sweet dessert without fat, you can literally eat the whole thing.... But fat actually fills you up and you just can't eat a lot of a dessert made with fat.

 

I vote butter cake with whipped cream and strawberries arranged nicely on it.

[StephanieF]

I buy berries frozen and mix in a food processor (still frozen) with fat free yoghurt, the frozen berries freeze the yoghurt slightly and it is a little like ice cream. You would have to do it just before serving though, takes 30 seconds and no added sugar needed.

Or banana "ice cream" which is frozen banana in a food processor, you need to mix for a while but all of a sudden it changes consistency and appears to become ice cream. I've fooled all of my children with this, they all thought they were eating ice cream, even the ones who won't eat bananas!

Stephanie

[Mom-ninja.]

I made chocolate covered strawberries yesterday. Yum.

 

I followed a recipe for "Magic Shell" I found on a site. I think it's called Weelicious.

 

1/2 c bittersweet chocolate

1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate

2 Tbs coconut oil

 

The coconut oil magics the chocolate harden when poured on something cold like ice cream. I dipped my berries into it and put in fridge.

[ktgrok]

Mixed berries (add banana's too if you want) topped with homemade whipped cream and shave some dark chocolate on top. Pretty served in small ramekins or wine glasses or some such thing. And seasonal! Otherwise a fruit crisp is always nice,a nd you can reduce the sugar quite a bit. There is a scottish dessert that is oats, berries, and whipped cream that I can't remember the name of, but very low sugar and very yummy.

[Anne in CA]

Angle food cake has few calories, some sugar free whipped cream and berries would be good with it to make a low calorie dessert. I do want to be clear that any dessert containing artificial sweetener will cause blood sugar issues. But I have lost weight eating those products and then keeping busy through the cravings that always follow.

[LostSurprise]

If you do make a fruit salad, you can make it a kind of fruit salsa. Cut the fruit a bit smaller (1/2" or so) and add a few Tbl of jam and maybe some seasonings (cinnamon, nutmeg, whatever goes with what you're using).

 

Cut soft taco shells into 'chips.' Sprinkle with cinnamon (and a little sugar if you like). Toast in the oven until lightly crisp.

 

This does add some wheat/gluten, but its a great way to get non healthy eaters eating more fruit in a fun way.

[HappyGrace]

Thanks for the great ideas!

 

I had to google quince :) I've heard the name but didn't know what it looked like. I'm sure we could get it around here; we're fairly urban.

[Joyofsixreboot]

If you do make a fruit salad, you can make it a kind of fruit salsa. Cut the fruit a bit smaller (1/2" or so) and add a few Tbl of jam and maybe some seasonings (cinnamon, nutmeg, whatever goes with what you're using).

 

Cut soft taco shells into 'chips.' Sprinkle with cinnamon (and a little sugar if you like). Toast in the oven until lightly crisp.

 

This does add some wheat/gluten, but its a great way to get non healthy eaters eating more fruit in a fun way.

 

 

Guess what tomorrow's dessert will be. This sounds yummy.

[Laurie4b]

If you want to avoid any sugar, I would go with a plate of the loveliest fruit you can find-- a beautiful bowl or platter of fresh stuff, even if you have to splurge. You might even want to include some candied flowers (google for edible varieties) to make it a feast for the eyes.

 

I think it's okay to splurge a little at holidays. Not being obsessive is actually part of healthy eating, imo. So previous suggestions of angel food cake with berries or chocolate covered strawberries sound good. Also someone on this board suggested black bean brownies once in a healthy dessert thread. I made them at our house and they were a big hit. The beans replace the white flour and add fiber.

[Spy Car]

Thanks for the great ideas!

 

I had to google quince :) I've heard the name but didn't know what it looked like. I'm sure we could get it around here; we're fairly urban.

 

Should you decide to try quince sometime, try to chose one that puts off a little perfume if you smell the end. These will be the best ones. They all put off more smell as they cook, but those that have a little perfume before they are cooked will be optimal.

 

Bill

[HappyGrace]

Purfume-y quince, roger that! :laugh:

 

Yes, Laurie, I agree-we don't want obsessive-just that there are options to having 8 (yes, 8) kinds of pie for 7 people. (2 of them kids) ;) There are great ideas on here-any of them would work! Will be tough to choose. Thanks!

[YaelAldrich]

How about tofu chocolate mousse? It's yum, easy to make and low in sugar (aside from what's in the chocolate itself).

 

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/02/06/chocolate-chocolate-chocolate-mousse/ I omit the milk and sweetener and it's SO good! You can use fruit to top it if you don't want to make or buy a healthy topping.