Top five healthy sweet treats

Who said treats had to be bad for you? Some foods taste delicious and also have a high nutritional value.

Here are our top ten healthy sweet treats!

While that’s not to say you should eat them every day or in large portions, these do make great alternatives to those sugary chocolate bars and lollies.

DARK CHOCOLATE

Chocolate that is over 50 per cent cocoa (preferably more – Lindt makes up to 85 per cent) is said to be good for you brain, heart health and even help you manage blood sugar levels!

OATY APPLE CRUMBLE

If you love dessert, then an apple crumble is a great alternative to a chocolate self-saucing pudding! With the crumble you get goodness of the apples, which add a lovely sweet flavour.

I like to make an oat-based crumble to minimise the amount of flour, butter and sugar I use. I also add cinnamon to increase the nutritional value and a delicious spicy flavour.

BERRIES AND YOGHURT

I love berries – not only are they deliciously sweet and bursting with flavour, they are also great for you! Mix them with some Greek yoghurt and marshmallows for a light summer dessert.

REAL HOT CHOCOLATE

Melt some dark chocolate in milk over the stove for a ‘real’ hot chocolate. Many of the powdered forms are high in sugar but this one will ensure you get the goodness of dark chocolate. Plus, after half a cup of this you will not crave any more sweet treats for awhile!

CARROT CAKE WITH SEEDS

Not all baking is bad for you, especially if it is homemade. When you are doing the baking, you can control what ingredients go in it. For example, I like to use recipes that are low in butter and sugar but include fruits and nuts.

One idea is making a carrot cake with raisins and seeds. This high-energy snack would be great for morning tea, especially if you have a busy day ahead!

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Jess O'Connor

A self-described ‘creative bookworm with an overactive imagination’, Jess is a freelance writer based in Auckland. She loves reading, writing, travelling, cooking and lazy days at the beach.