Skinny Jeans Approved Desserts (Recipes)

The two biggest “challenges” my clients often face when they are trying to stick to a plan to get lean, as far as nutrition goes, are alcohol and sweets. Sometimes one or the other, sometimes both.

That’s why during the last Skinny Jeans Transformation Challenge, I challenged the teams to come up with healthy desserts under 200 calories per serving that were made up of a majority of whole foods (meaning minimal processing), contained at least one “super-food” and tasted good enough to satisfy the urge to grab a jumbo cookie, brownie or bowl of ice-cream (you do get those too right? It’s not just me?…..).

Well they came up with 3 and I’m finally sharing them with you today (Hint: The ice pops are PERFECT for these hot summer days).

Instead of going off the deep end choose to satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy and controlled way.

If you have a favorite healthy dessert, I’d love to hear it and I’ll share it with everyone too. Leave a comment below and tell us about it.

Pineapple-Raspberry Parfaits by Ky-Acia and Tiffany –Makes 4 servings

2 Cups non-fat peach yogurt
½ pint fresh raspberries (about 1-1/4 cups) (High in anti-oxidants)
1-1/2 Cups Fresh, frozen or canned pineapple chunks

Preparation: Divide and layer yogurt, raspberries and pineapple into 4 glasses and serve

Nutrition: Calories 109, Fat 0g, Carbs 23g, Protein 5g, Fiber 3g

Banana Berry and Buttermilk Ice Pops –Submitted by Sandy and Cindy – Makes 10 pops

(Originally From Wholeliving .com)

1-1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1 Banana
1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen berries
¼ cup agave syrup (sweetens without raising your blood sugar!)

Preparation:

Puree all ingredients into a blender until smooth. Pour mixture into ice pop molds and freeze.

Nutrition: 75 calories each

Winning Recipe!

Z’s Biscotti –by Z and Candy –16 servings

2 cups garbanzo bean flour
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
½ cup sun crystals
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 large eggs, Egglands Best, brown
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp orange zest
2 tsp lemon zest
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup unsalted walnuts
drizzle of Cadbury’s dark chocolate

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine first 6 ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Blend on low speed for 30 seconds. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and next 5 ingredients. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; beat until combined. Fold in cranberries and unsalted walnuts.
Transfer dough to lightly floured surface. Using floured hands, shape dough into a long log. Brush off excess flour; transfer log to prepared sheet. Flatten each log into a 2” wide strip. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until browned and set, about 30 minutes. Reduce oven to 250 and arrange 1 rack in top third of oven and 1 rack in bottom third.
Line a second baking sheet with parchment paper. Transfer biscotti to a work surface. Using a serrated knife, cut each strip diagonally into 1/3” thick slices. Arrange slices, cut side down, on baking sheet.
Bake biscotti, rotating baking sheets halfway through, until crisp, about 40 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to racks, let cool.
5. Melt chocolate in double boiler or in bowl over boiling water; drizzle with spoon over each biscotti.