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I love dessert and always find myself wanting something sweet after my meals or throughout my day to satisfy my “sweet tooth”. I have been this way ever since I can remember. As a young child I relished birthday cake at parties for friends and family, so now I consider myself an experienced consumer of all desserts!
Being a self-proclaimed dessert expert, yet also a mindful eater, I have learned to elevate my sweet treats. How can I do that (you might be thinking)? For me, it is simply by combining fruit with my dessert. I aim to eat at least one or two fruits per day, and often find the way I enjoy it most is to include it in my meal as dessert. Spend Smart. Eat Smart. has many recipes that include fruits to satisfy my sweet tooth. My current favorite is Yogurt Parfaits, with fruit, yogurt, and granola. I like it with layers of low-fat vanilla yogurt and bananas sprinkled with granola. Another favorite of mine is Graham Cracker Smackers using canned peaches as the fruit. I often have all the ingredients (graham crackers, peanut butter, canned fruit) on hand at home, which makes it quick and easy to put together.
Along with simple desserts, I also enjoy experiencing different textures. If you are also like me, you may want to try a couple of my favorites that combine a sweet, creamy sauce with fruit like Fruit and Pudding Dessert and Magical Fruit Salad.
These recipes are my favorites because they taste amazing, include fruit for added health benefits, and are adaptable to fit me! I get to choose what fruits I include and I enjoy trying new ones!
What fruits would you like to include in your desserts?
Written by Kali Angerman
Kali Angerman works on the nutrition education team at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. She enjoys spending time with family/friends, playing sports, and trying new foods!