3 Simple Dietitian Approved Desserts

Did you know that eating sweet foods after a main meal is often a habit or learned behaviour?

I’m a Dietitian and Nutritionist and I - perhaps just like you - always crave something sweet after my main meals. The reason this likely occurs is because it’s a behaviour we’ve consistently done in the past - unconsciously making an association between savoury meals and sweet snacks.

Consuming sweet foods actually releases a feel good chemical in our brains called serotonin, which may help to explain why some of us swear we are “addicted’ to sugar”.

It’s important to know that eating sweets after your meals doesn’t have to be damaging to your health. If anything, listening to your body and honouring your cravings is something I encourage as a health professional as it can help you to form a positive relationship with food and your body. It also inhibits the restrict/binge cycle we so often see in individuals who avoid their favourite foods. When you fail to allow yourself something that you enjoy or crave, you are more likely to overindulge when you are given the opportunity to consume it - in fear of not knowing when you might have access to it again.

Instead, I encourage you to include moderate amounts of foods such as sweets in your diet in a way that makes you feel your best. Consistently giving yourself permission to enjoy these foods takes them off a pedestal and removes any moral value or novelty you might have given them.

Remember, no foods are good or bad. Sure, some contain more nutrients than others but all foods should be enjoyed to serve various purposes.

With that said, I’ve compiled three simple dessert options to help you satisfy your sweet tooth and support your health.

‘Caramel’ Date Bites

Ingredients

• 6 medjool dates, pips removed
• 3 tablespoons crunchy natural-style peanut butter
• 50g melted chocolate

Method:

1. Slice each medjool date in half and remove the pip
2. Place the dates onto a small tray or plate lined with baking paper
3. Place ½ tbsp of crunchy peanut butter into the centre of each date
4. Melt the chocolate according to packet instructions and drizzle over each date
5. Pop the dates into the fridge to set for 1 hour

‘Ice-Cube’ Rocky Road

Ingredients

• 2 scotch finger biscuits
• 3 tbsp dried fruit of your choice [we used prunes but sultana’s, dried apricots or dates would work well too]
• 1 tbsp pepita seeds
• ¼ cup roasted almonds
• 100g melted chocolate
• Large silicone ice-tray [available to purchase from most kitchen/homeware stores]

Method

1. Chop all of the ingredients [excluding the chocolate] into small pieces
2. Evenly place the chopped ingredients into the ice tray
3. Melt the chocolate according to package instructions and pour into each cube
4. Place into the fridge to set for 2 hours
5. Remove the rocky road from the tray - you may need to carve around the edges with a butter knife to seamlessly remove

Lastly, I couldn’t recommend the incredible collagen-infused hot chocolate from The Collagen Co enough to help you satisfy your sweet tooth.

Alongside collagen, it contains magnesium to promote relaxation, chamomile to assist with sleep quality and zinc to support regulating sleep patterns. Grab yourself your favourite mug and pop the kettle on, your body and mind will thank you for it!

P.s. Did you you that you can add unflavoured collagen to any dessert you make to boost the nutritional value? We love adding it to melted chocolate or mixing it into baked goods.

Millie xx