Summer Fruits Make Desserts Healthy

Cutting back on high-fat, sugar-laden treats like cakes, pies and brownies is a good idea. But no one wants to miss out on dessert. Fresh melon chunks, sliced peaches, papaya and ripe berries give your meal a nutritional bonus and satisfies the sweet tooth. Here are some ideas for combining summer fruits with low-fat ingredients to make dessert special-go heavy on the fruit and light on the extras to keep it nutritious:

Mix up Melons, Berries and Peaches

• Summer favorites like cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon are sweet, juicy and flavorful enough for dessert right off the vine. Adding a scoop of sorbet or sherbet to a melon wedge along with a splash of raspberry syrup or lime juice turns fresh melon into a real taste sensation.
• Melons are virtually fat-free, low in calories, and provide a good source of vitamins A and C. With only 50 calories per cup of melon cubes, they're a nutritional bargain.
• Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries signify the peak of summer sweetness. Take advantage of their vibrant color and flavor to jazz up any fruit salad, or top a dish of mixed berries with a dollop of vanilla yogurt or sugar-free whipped topping for a healthy treat. Sprinkled over frozen yogurt or layered with sugar-free pudding they make a beautiful and great-tasting sundae or parfait. Berries average about 60-80 calories per cup. They're an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber.

For a show-stopping dessert that will definitely make your kids finish their vegetables, surround a wedge of angel food cake with slices of fresh peaches or nectarines. Top with fresh berries. Peaches and nectarines have only 50-65 calories each. They provide loads of vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber.

 

Adapted from the Lean Cuisine website, www.everydayeating.com