Healthy Desserts

Citygirl1

JackieO wrote: »

Ordinary low fat basic yogurt and add a dollop of honey or some diced fresh fruit Grapes are nice and just mix it all together a diced up apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon is nice ,but as a poster says desserts aren't always necessary. My latevMu always did either a soup starter then the main meal with lots of veg or main meal plus a dessert, never both. Tonight I shall have some semolina pudding with a spoonful of honey and some cinnamon sprinkled over it.Plus a smaller pudding bowl will help ortion wise if its to reduce your sweet intake

Jackie, I love honey and often have it mixed with basic yoghurt but I've heard that even honey is full of sugar and bad for you. Is this really true? I can't just give up everything sweet. I've heard even fruit is full of sugar. Where does it end?

Cornucopia

Citygirl1 wrote: »

Jackie, I love honey and often have it mixed with basic yoghurt but I've heard that even honey is full of sugar and bad for you. Is this really true? I can't just give up everything sweet. I've heard even fruit is full of sugar. Where does it end?

It's a question of variety and moderation.

The issue with sugar is that it is so widely used as an ingredient in so many processed foods, as well as being naturally present in many more. There is a whole issue of "hidden sugar" in many savoury foods. A C4 program a couple of weeks ago examined sugar in restaurant dishes and found greater amounts in certain main courses than in typical desserts.

I would say: eat plenty of fruit together with plenty of veg - virtually every source says that. Have a variety of different fruit, and avoid always eating very sweet fruit such as Grapes. You can combine dried fruit, tinned, cooked and fresh for variety. Personally I avoid drinking fruit juice undiluted, but I'm sure that's okay in moderation, too. (Lidl have a range of Fruit Juice Drinks with no added sugar that are generally very nice, and good VFM).

Honey is sugar, but it also contains a variety of other nutrients. I wouldn't suggest using it liberally, but a couple of teaspoons every few days (maybe on a fruit that would otherwise be unpalatable) would seem to me to be a suitable level of moderation.

Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian, and the above advice is intended for people in good health.

ariarnia

From a dietary view point there is no evidence that cutting all sugar out of your diet is good for you.

Given carbohydrates are essentially sugar to the body there is some evidence that cutting all carbohydrates is actively bad for the body long term and can have a negative impact on energy levels and weight loss.

Same principle with fat. A lack of dietary fats can result in a deficiency of fat soluble vitamins (such as K) and a lack of fat in the diet can result in a condition known as protein poisoning.

Our bodies have evolved to process a wide range of nutrient sources and, while we can survive with deficiencies in many areas, the most sustainable eating plans for most people are those where there is a balance of all food groups.

That includes the ones we like to demonise.

Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian, and the above advice is intended for people in good health.

[Deleted User]

I don't have a sweet tooth really and use honey instead of manufactured sugar as a replacement , again its all a degree of moderation I suppose .

Honey has been used for thousands of years as a sweetener.I use it to cook with ,especially nice a dessert spoon in a little water to stew apples or drizzled over ham when SC'ing it. I think natural honey gives a delicate sweetnes and must be better for you than refined sugars but I am no scientist ,just an old women who has kept fairly healthy by using it as a replacement . Great with some lemon and hot water if you have a sniffle or a sore throat

moneyistooshorttomention

Personally - I've given up honey:( - because (though I buy organic honey) I'm not convinced the bees stick to feeding on the natural stuff (rather than plants that have had pesticides used on them). Add the fact that many honey producers are feeding the bees sugar, rather than leaving them enough of their own honey to be able to feed themselves. Hopefully a temporary measure - until all food is grown organically again and all bees are feeding off their own honey again - but I don't see that happening in my lifetime and so...

End verdict = I decided to use another form of sweetening for those occasional times I feel the need of some. So I'll use, for instance, date syrup or good quality maple syrup or coconut sugar etc etc.

Caterina

I feel so lucky because my daughter's landlords keep bees in the garden and have given me a few jars. The bees feed from flowers in London gardens and are treated well, left with plenty of their own honey and NEVER killed in winter. I treat this honey with respect and use small amounts. It is delicious and totally cruelty free.

Shropshirelass

I find pre preparing puddings in small dishes or ramekins a big help. You can control the portion size, and can somehow more easily say "I'll have it tomorrow" if you are not really hungry and know it will still be there.

Sugar free fruit jelly made with evaporated milk and tinned fruit is excellent, you can made it in one dish or half a dozen small ones, and it will keep for days.

Mashed banana on cream cracker (thanks JackieO for the cream cracker idea). DH and I often share a fresh fruit, e.g. orange, banana or favourite, persimmon.

Thanks for the topic, I have got lots of ideas from it. Nice to see others have same problem!!

Prinzessilein

I always have a tub of instant (just add boiling water) custard on the shelf....those small pots of ready made custard are nice, but way too pricey....I just make up a small portion whenever I fancy something sweet - banana and custard is nice (topped with a smashed-up ginger nut for extra decadence!)....and recently plums have been cheapish, so I have chopped one (two if small) into a bowl added a spoon of water and a good pinch of cinnamon and microwave-stewed them.

How about a souffl! omelette?...one egg, separate the yolk and white...add a splash of milk to the yolk and a drop or two of honey or agave syrup mix well,....whisk up the white...fold into the yolk mixture...cook in microwave or in a pan....serve with a sprinkle of chopped nuts, or a little fruit if liked.

And not ever after-meal 'something' has to be sweet...how about a morsel of cheese?