No one can understand the pain experienced by a sweet toothed person like me. Except maybe another sweet toothed person! On one hand, there is an intense craving to indulge yourself with all kinds of sweet and yummy desserts every once in a while. On the other hand, there is a constant fear of putting on some unwanted extra pounds to your weight. This is exactly how I felt for years together. Until I was persuaded by my husband to look out for better dessert options that would help me to control my weight while satisfying my sweet tooth. I am not saying that they made me light as a feather, but you can certainly eat these desserts with a clear conscience. Some 'Sinless' Desserts to Make Your Day... Dark Chocolate Dark chocolates contain little or zero proportions of sugar. They are packed with nourishing antioxidants that help stop your body from aging. Since milk plays a role in stopping the effects of antioxidants, you have one more reason to give up your regular milk chocolate and opt for a pure dark chocolate bar. Sugar Free Puddings Believe it or not, but some of the most common fresh fruits pies and puddings taste better without any sugar. This is because of the natural sweetness of these fruits. Try some cranberry and pear pies, cherry pies or blue berry pies. Alternately, you may also try making a sweet potato pie which is packed with lots of fiber and antioxidants that are essential for your good health. Fruit Juices and Popsicles There is nothing more nourishing and refreshing than a tall glass full of fresh fruit juices. Opt for fresh juices made of watermelon, apples, pineapples, sweet lime, kiwis, lemon, etc. Add a dash of salt and herbs to enhance the taste. You may opt for making some mocktails by experimenting with a new juice combination. You may drink chilled juices with ice cubes during summers. An easy way to use leftover juices, is to pour them in popsicle molds and deep freeze them. And your popsicles are ready to eat! Fruit Salad Yes, the all time favorite sweet and healthy snack is the fruit salad. Try making it interesting by mixing as many fruits as you can viz. apples, bananas, grapes, cherries, berries, kiwi. Try to add a rare seasonal fruit to make your fruit salad extra special. You can consume it plain or toss the fruits with a pinch of salt and lemon juice. At times, a dash of mint makes it really yummy too. For best tastes, mix the fruits and place them in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Avoid mixing any milk. Add mint, salt and lemon juice just before you actually consume the salad. Yogurt Parfait with Fresh Berries All you need is some granola, pieces of fresh strawberry/ raspberries/ blueberries and some fresh yogurt to make one of the most unforgettable parfaits. Take a tall mocktail glass and fill the 3 ingredients in this glass in separate layers. Cool the glass for about an hour in your refrigerator. Relax and eat the parfait after dinner. I am sure you will be asking for more. Baked Apples If you have not tried baked apples ever before, then you have really missed an amazing treat. All you need to do is take a fresh apple. Use a sharp knife to remove its core. Stuff the core with dried fruits. Sprinkle some freshly ground cinnamon powder on the apple. Put the apple in the preheated oven (370° F) for about 30 minutes. And your baked apple is ready. Assorted Dry Fruits and Tutti Fruity There is nothing rich and energizing than a bowl of assorted dry fruits such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, raisins, pistachios and apricots. Clean the dry fruits well before you eat them. Now toss them with some tutti fruity pieces. Tutti fruity are nothing but dried peals of fruits like oranges and sweet lime. I guarantee that this will make for an amazing snack and you will be tempted to try this again and again. Smoothies Make yummy smoothies with fresh and tangy fruits that you like. One of the most healthy option is a mixed fruit smoothie. You can make it nice and creamy with a banana base and some protein powder. Frosted Cornflakes with Milk and Fruits Cornflakes are one of the most popular breakfast foods, but they can surprisingly satisfy your sweet tooth as well. Ideally, go in for a generous helping of frosted cornflakes. Toss them with freshly chopped chunks of fruits. Add warm or cold milk, as per your taste. Eat the cornflakes immediately since cornflakes taste better when they are still crispy. Energy Bars Instead of a regular chocolate candy bar, opt for a peanut and white chocolate energy bar. It is not only delicious, but it also helps you keep calories within limits on their consumption. Pumpkin Pancakes with Jaggery This is a popular exotic recipe from India made out of red pumpkin and jaggery. Pumpkins are rich in fiber and vitamin D while jaggery is a rich source of iron. Jaggery is often quoted as a healthier alternative to sugar. Recipe Grate 250 gm of red pumpkin. Heat a wok and add 2 tsp of cooking oil. Toss the grated pumpkin in the wok till it softens. Add grated jaggery in equal proportions to the grated pumpkin. Add salt to taste. You will notice that the pumpkin oozes lots of water and the mixture starts cooking. Heat till the pumpkin water gains consistency of a thick syrup. Remove the wok from the flame and let it cool for a good 2 to 3 hours. Now add some wheat flour to the cooled pumpkin and knead well. Divide the pumpkin dough into ping-pong ball sized pieces. Use a rolling pin to roll them into thick round pancakes. Heat a griddle and roast the pumpkin pancakes on it. You may use ½ tsp of cooking oil to help the pancakes roast better. And lo... your pumpkin pancakes are ready. Yes, I am sure that your mouth has already started watering. As for me, I am happy that I can satisfy my sweet cravings without guilt every now and then. So now, even you can satisfy your sweet temptations. But remember, not to overeat as too much of any food is not good. Ok, I will stop advising and give you time to head to your kitchen. Bon Appétit!