Healthier desserts
If you want something sweet, there are lots of healthier options you can choose. Fruit is an especially good choice and can count towards the five portions of fruit and vegetables you should get each day.
What to choose
When choosing a dessert, you could try:
- seasonal or exotic fresh fruit salad
- a slice of melon
- baked apples
- fruit crumble
- tinned fruit with lower fat natural yoghurt - choose fruit in natural unsweetened fruit juice rather than syrup
- low-fat fruit yoghurts - you could buy individual pots, or mix your own using low-fat plain yoghurt and soft fruit
Alternatives to cream or chocolate fillings
Rather than desserts with cream or chocolate fillings, you could choose:
- fruit flan, tart or pie - the healthier option is pie with just one crust, either a top crust or a flan with a pastry base
- fruit crumbles – use fruit in season cooking apples, rhubarb, plums
- rice pudding made with skimmed one per cent or semi-skimmed milk - If you're buying it tinned, go for lower-fat varieties
- try to avoid adding sugar, and add some bits of fresh or dried fruit instead, such as dates
Instead of having cream with your dessert, go for:
- low-fat yoghurt
- low-fat fromage frais
- fruit purée
- custard made with skimmed, one per cent or semi-skimmed milk