I like desserts.  I don’t eat them very often, but I like them.  Why is it that we feel guilty when we eat a sweet and savory treat?  While most commercial store bought brands of desserts are not healthy for us to eat, there are good choices that we can make to satisfy even the worst sweet tooth.

I know it’s a little early to start thinking about the Labor Day Holiday weekend, but planning ahead can keep you from derailing with your healthy eating during the holiday weekend celebration.  “Healthy eating” doesn’t have to be a dirty little phrase.  I don’t understand why people cringe when they hear the term “healthy eating”.  Let’s prove even the worst critics wrong.

Let’s take a look at some “healthy” benefits to eating desserts:

1. Desserts can be packed with nutrients.  Sweets such as apple pie or pumpkin pie or dark chocolate contain rich sources of whole foods that provide necessary vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants to your diet.
2. They make you happy!
3. Eating Dessert can help in weight management.  By eating a dessert, it can help curb your food cravings.  It’s important to balance your food choices.
4. Desserts can help you eat more fruits.
5. Desserts can help you cope with the negative side effects of dieting.  (But we know that ‘dieting’ isn’t a good idea. If you don’t understand this statement, please look at previous postings.)

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/5-surprising-health-benefits-desserts.html

Is eating desserts good or bad for you? Depends on what you are eating and how often you are eating it.  The psychological benefit to eating desserts are that they make you feel good.  I mean, who doesn’t want to feel better? When you are eating a dessert, you feel like you are being treated to something special which in turn can make you feel special.  We need to pamper ourselves at times, it is good for the psyche and for the soul.  Sharing a dessert with others makes for good memories.  These moments of making memories are imprinted within our minds which in turn brings up feelings of happiness and joy.

There’s nothing better than fresh sliced strawberries, peaches, raspberries, bananas,  apples, blackberries or blueberries.  Add a drizzle of honey or a little whipped cream and your taste buds are in heaven.  Savor the moment!

The thing to remember about desserts is moderation, consider using Stevia or agave in place of sugar.  Eat smaller portions, your taste beds are just as happy with a smaller serving as they are with a large serving.

So, plan ahead for Labor Day Weekend, savior the moments that sharing a dessert will create.  Enjoy making sweet memories with friends and family.

 

 

Grain-free Peach Crisp
Serves 6

Ingredients:

Filling:
2 lbs fresh (or thawed from frozen) peaches, roughly chopped
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Crumb topping:
1 1/2 cups walnut halves
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350F. In a large sauce pot over medium heat, combine the peaches, maple syrup, vanilla, and ground cinnamon. Stir well until the syrup comes to a boil, then allow to simmer until the syrup has thickened a bit and the peaches are fork-tender. Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit while you make the crumble.

To make the crumble, place the walnuts and shredded coconut in the bowl of a large food processor fitted with an S blade. Process until a crumbly texture is formed, then add in the maple syrup, coconut oil, salt, and almond extract. Process again, until a sticky and crumbly mixture is formed.

Pour the peach filling into a 9-inch square baking dish, then sprinkle the crumble over the top evenly. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden, then serve warm.

https://detoxinista.com/easy-peach-crisp-vegan-paleo/