Can You Eat Dessert On A Diet?
Author: Dorrie Ruplinger

In my opinion, any diet that doesn't allow for desserts, at
least once in a while, is a diet that is doomed to fail. I know
there are diets out there that are designed to help you get rid
of sugar cravings and therefore ban sugar from your diet. But
even if you are on a sugar free diet, either because you choose
to be or because you need to be because of a health issue such
as diabetes which makes avoiding sugar part of your everyday
life, I think dessert should be part of every diet plan.

Why do I think that? Although I am not a health care
professional or weight loss expert with a degree, I have gone
on enough diets myself to know that I am the most successful
when a diet has some "wiggle room" in it that allows me to have
treats. And, I recently read about one well known fitness
trainer who counsels people who are trying to lose weight and
she says she builds a couple hundred calories in her daily diet
set aside for treats. She says it helps her eat healthy the rest
of the day.

Some well respected experts on weight loss understand people's
need for dessert. Weight Watchers has several dessert choices
available at the grocery store and if you buy their magazine
you will find dessert recipes. Jenny Craig and Nutri-System
have desserts. And the South Beach Diet has desserts too.

I have a sweet tooth. There is no doubt I love dessert.
Although some people can easily skip dessert, and may actually
prefer not to have it, I am not one of those people. I don't
need to have a huge piece of something sweet, but in the
evening I enjoy dessert and really feel deprived if I cannot
have it.

Some tips to follow about having dessert so you don't wreck
your diet:

• If you are indulging in a decadent dessert, don't eat the
whole thing. You will be surprised how satisfying a few bits
are. Share with someone or only take a small piece

• There is some very tasty sugar free candy available. My
favorites are York Peppermint patties, Red Vines licorice,
Reese's Peanut Butter cups, and any of the Godiva's sugar free
chocolate bars. Be careful though. Sugar free candy is
typically not low calorie, it's just sugar free. And too much
of it can also easily upset your stomach.

• In my opinion, for the most part, a little of something you
really want is better than something you are not that hungry
for. So if you really want some cheesecake, have a small piece
of cheesecake. If you really want ice cream, have a small bowl
of your favorite ice cream.

Here are some ideas for delicious desserts that will satisfy
your sweet tooth without wrecking your diet.

• Angel food cake is delicious without having a ton of
calories. If you have a slice that is 1/12th of the cake, it's
about 160 calories. Add a serving of regular Cool Whip for
another 25 calories or sugar free Cool Whip for another 20
calories and you have a delicious dessert under 200 calories.

• Sugar free Jell-O pudding is 60 calories; 80 to 85 calories
with a serving or sugar free or regular Cool Whip for an easy
anytime dessert treat under 100 calories.

• Fresh raspberries sweetened with Splenda and served over a
scoop of vanilla ice cream (you decide if it's going to be low
fat, regular, or the frozen yogurt variety based on the
calories you feel you feel comfortable having for the dessert).


• Chocolate dipped strawberries. Dip fresh strawberries in
dark, milk, or white chocolate; or use a combination of all
three. Unless you go overboard on the chocolate, you should be
able to have two chocolate dipped strawberries for around 100
calories.

• Baked apples. Use any baked apple recipe, but try either
reducing the amount of sugar a little or substituting the sugar
with Splenda for baking.


About The Author: Dorrie Ruplinger is a featured writer for
http://www.LoseWeightForChristmas.com. Visit the website for a
free report on how to lose 10 pounds before Christmas.