Liven Up Your Dessert With Fruits

So you want to cut down on the sweets, but you just can't seem to give up dessert altogether. Well, who says you had to? Dessert doesn't always have to be a chocolate chip cookie or vanilla ice cream-but it doesn't have to be completely bland either. For a simple change, try switching to fruit-based desserts. Since they're naturally sweet, you can skip the extra sugar and get your sweet fix from healthier, more natural sources.

Start by making minor changes, such as replacing your usual chocolate ice cream with sorbet or fruit-flavored frozen yogurt. These are just as satisfying, and you can't even tell they pack half as many calories. Make it even healthier by choosing low-fat or low-sugar options. Or if you want some variety, get some plain frozen yogurt and add some fresh fruit or jam. It adds a nice bit of texture, and it helps you work more fruits into your kids' diet as well.

You can also use fresh fruits themselves, either alone or with other treats. Cut up some fruit and serve them with some light cookies, or a dollop of light whipped cream. Or serve them with some milk for a quicker, simpler treat. You can also make a quick fruit salad by tossing some fruits together with some juice, milk or yogurt. Serve them chilled-it enhances the flavor and makes them more filling.

Fruit cupcakes are another great way to work fruit into your desserts. They usually use less sugar than other common cupcake flavors, and you can easily adjust them to suit your tastes. You can also try making your own by taking a basic vanilla recipe and throwing in your choice of fruit cuts. Frozen fruits usually work best since they don't leak and turn out more solid than fresh or dried ones.

Of course, your best choice is to eat them as they are. Once in a while, just grab a fruit after dinner and enjoy it without any add-ons. Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the table so you can snack on them anytime and stay away from less healthy desserts.