Having the right food in the house when we’re losing or maintaining after 50 isn’t just nice, it’s essential to smart eating versus chowing like a hungry toddler-gone-wild.
I tend to reach for something sugary every evening (update: this was pre-ditching my evening sugar habit, read more about how I did it here). It took time, but I now get that embracing my sweet-tooth is the only tactic that’s worked.
I taste-tested and reviewed a bunch of “friendly” summer desserts, and rated them from not-so-much to awesome:
One
Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Latte Dessert Bars.
Don’t coffee Popsicles sound like Popsicle-heaven?! Don’t get me wrong, I love Trader Joe’s, but the latte-sicles get zero stars for tasting mostly like creamy water.
Two
Sugar-free Jell-O with whipped cream.
Three stars. Tasty, pretty but just kind of eh overall.
Three
Angel food cake!!!
Love, love, love angel food cake, but it’s a tricky proposition because if I’m feeling confident (e.g. won’t go Cookie Monster on whatever’s in front of me), I’ll have a slice or two. But angel food cake clocks in at 3 stars for being pretty and tasty — but lost two for being too easy to inhale half the cake at one sitting. Proceed with caution.
Four
Sugar-free pudding with whipped cream.
Delish. The only downside is that it looks so much like chocolate mousse that you might feel a tiny stab of disappointment when the chocolate mousse experience doesn’t flood your taste buds. But overall, sugar-free pudding rocks and comes in at 4 stars.
Five
Creamy Coconut Popsicles.
Have you seen these popsicles by Outshine made for adults? If coconut isn’t your thing, they also come in strawberry, mango, peach, tangerine, strawberry-lemonade and more.
These guys get four stars: delicious. They only lose a star for being so good that sometimes I eat two.
Six
Trader Joe’s Macaron cookies!
Macarons come in at 4 stars because it is a little difficult to only eat three macarons (one serving). But having a good cup of coffee with the three macarons makes me feel fancy.
Seven
When I’m craving something out-of-the-ordinary that’s not part of my clean eating plan (like, I made birthday cake for my boys), I’ll skip dinner all together and only have dessert.
And btw, I learned this strategy from “naturally thin” who eat what they want and aren’t limited by what dinner is “supposed to be.”
Having dessert for dinner gets all 5 stars because the scale will never be the wiser come morning (if you don’t go wild of course).
Eight
Voortman Sugar Free Vanilla Wafer Cookies.
Five stars. These wafer cookies are so fun. They come in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate with no high-fructose corn syrup plus 30 percent less carbs than the regular wafers.
Be still your heart because this company also makes sugar-free cookies in oatmeal, short bread, key lime pie, lemon, and chocolate chip.
I can’t be trusted with oatmeal cookies — I know my limits — but I can stop at a (sane) portion size with every other flavor.
Nine
Baby watermelons are my healthiest addiction.
I love everything about a ripe watermelon, but I’m terrible at picking huge melons well; I tend to pick mushy or overripe ones every time. I’ve had more luck with the small guys.
When I really need a huge, ripe watermelon, I ask the store’s fruit guy or the serious senior citizen — thumping melons a foot away — for assistance. (It’s never failed, people love to be helpful.)
Ten
My favorite is saved for last: top fresh strawberries with a whipped cream hat.
Berries are a perfect dessert because they’re beautiful, delicious, nutritious and don’t propel you into eating everything sugar in the kitchen. Five stars.
I love hearing your ideas! How do you keep your sweet-tooth from wrecking your clean eating days?
♥, Wendy
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13 Comments
Wendy, Wow! I am so impressed with your evaluation of 10 desserts! Congrats on keeping your weight down all this time. It’s difficult when we live in a world of fast food and preservatives. I will need to check out the coconut popsicles, as I am always looking for something a tad bit sweet after a meal. Found you through Metamorphosis Monday! Have a great week.
Thank you Mary! So glad you found me through Susan’s Meta Monday! Isn’t she fun?
And LifeatBellaTerra.com is a breathtaking blog. And your “about” page is incredible. You must be a writer. What is that fluffy darling you’re holding? Is that a bunny or a puppy? (I’ve rescued a lot too.)
Wendy
Love this review – I have a real sweet tooth!
Thank goodness.
Hi Regality!
Dessert is my downfall for sure. 🙂
Wendy
Oh my gosh – I love this! I’m going to try some of those for sure! Thanks for the excellent review, and Happy Strawberries! 🙂
Happy strawberries to you too! And thanks for making me smile!!
Wendy
These desserts look so yummy! My favorites are the pudding and strawberries! Although, I’m very lucky to not suffer from a sweet tooth. Savory is more my thing. Great post!
Hi Michele!
How awesome to not have a sweet tooth. Whispering: mine is a pain. Savory sounds scary too though! 🙂
Wendy
I eat many of these sweets. The outshine bars come chocolate covered too. I have the coconuts in my freezer!
Thanks Phyllis! I’m getting chocolate next! I’m in love with their coconut!
Wendy
I am so bummed to hear that the coffee popsicles were a bust! That sounds so, 100% up my alley! Have always liked angel food cake and both of your cookie finds sound like they are worth a try. Will add them to my next grocery list.
Hi Elizabeth,
I was bummed about the coffee popsicles too. On the plus side, the cookies are really, really good. I should have added: if you can’t trust yourself around great cookies, save yourself and don’t buy them!! 🙂
Wendy