I love dessert. And, as a dietitian, I suggest eating it often.
Let’s get a few things out of the way:
No, desserts are typically not the most nutritious foods in the world. I’m not calling them bad – because no food is good or bad.
But chocolate chip cookies typically don’t contain as many vitamins and minerals as broccoli, and that’s just a fact.
Because of this, you might be under the impression that you should eat dessert only infrequently. Or drastically limit the amount of added sugar you eat.
Wrong.
As a dietitian, I highly recommend eating dessert regularly – especially if you have a sweet tooth.
Eating dessert regularly means that it loses its novelty. It’s still delicious, but isn’t as overly exciting simply because it’s off limits.
It also means that you crave it less intensely and feel satisfied more easily – meaning less bingeing and consequential guilt down the road.
All foods can fit. There’s a time and place for all food in a healthy diet, including dessert.
Some foods may have more nutrients than others, while some foods may be more satisfying in a given moment.
If you have a sweet tooth though, please, eat dessert. And eat it often. These 12 recipes are a great place to start 🙂
1. Peanut Butter Cup Yogurt Pops
These Yogurt Pops are an easy, fun, and delicious sweet bite that you’ve got to keep stashed in your freezer.
2. Homemade Dunkaroo Dip
Fellow millennials who grew up on Dunkaroos: you have to try this homemade version of the dip.
3. No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
When you don’t want to turn on your oven and still want something chocolatey and delicious, these cookies are ideal.
4. Crunchy Candy Hearts
I love Valentine’s Day candy. Reese’s hearts? The GOAT. But there’s also something so fun about making your own candy too.
5. Air Fryer Monster Cookies
love that the air fryer makes these cookies even easier to make. One bowl. One air fryer. No cookie sheet to clean and preheating the oven.
6. Chocolate Raspberry Bark
I’ve seen variations of this chocolate bark with other fruit, but haven’t yet seen it made with raspberries. The combination of the tangy raspberries with the sweet chocolate is beyond.
7. Chocolate Matzah Toffee
This matzah toffee is delicious. It starts with a buttery, crisp brown sugar toffee to coat the matzah. Then, a layer of rich chocolate is added on top.
8. No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
This No Bake Peanut Butter Pie is everything you’d ever want in a dessert. It’s easy to make, is absolutely delicious and is made with plenty of simple ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen.
9. Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
It’s no secret I love a chocolate chip cookie. They’re, hands down, one of my favorite foods. And in bar form? Even better.
10. Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
Confession: I’ve only had zucchini bread a handful of time. No clue why! I love the idea of it and the taste of it. I mean, a sweet bread that also has some veggies packed in? Count me in.
11. 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Bars
If you liked the Banana Oaties, you are going to LOVE these. They’re basically the same thing but in bar form and with peanut butter. Consider it an upragde!
12. The Best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
A huge benefit of staying home = more time to bake. This banana bread is so good that I’ve already made it twice this weekend alone. Plus, it only uses one bowl!
13. Oatmeal Chocolate Skip Skillet Cookie
I don’t think it’s any secret (or surprise, really) that chocolate chip cookies are my #1 favorite food. Just take one quick look at my Instagram and it’s pretty obvious.
14. Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookie Dough
This recipe is inspired by my favorite dish at one of my favorite NYC restaurants. And dare I say that it might even be just as good.
15. Chocolate Chip Apple Blondies
Chocolate chip. Apple. Blondies. Need I say more?!
Want to learn more about eating dessert regularly as part of a healthy relationship with food?
Check out my NEW program, Food Freedom for the Whole Family, to teach you how to include all foods in your diet and finally stop stressing about food.
