When it comes to eating healthy, my biggest pitfall is dessert. I’m a sucker for ice cream to be more specific. So for those of you who may be counting calories or just trying to lose weight in general but are craving the sweets this holiday season, here are a few alternatives for you.
- Frozen grapes 17 grapes=34 calories
- Banana “ice cream” – take sliced frozen bananas, and blend them until smooth. Serve immediately. For a different taste, add 2 Tbsp PB2 or other peanut butter powder when blending. 1 medium banana=110 calories + 2 Tbsp PB2 for an extra 45 calories
- 1 cup fresh red raspberries or other fresh fruit and 1 Tbsp mini chocolate chips – grab one of each per bite. 135 calories
- Dip fresh blueberries in vanilla Greek yogurt and freeze them on a baking sheet individually for several hours. Place in freezer bag and store in the freezer. 1 cup blueberries + 1/2 cup vanilla non-fat Greek yogurt = 170 calories
- Graham cracker ice cream sandwiches
How do you make the graham cracker ice cream sandwiches you may ask?
First take the graham cracker sheets and break them in half. I like to alternate between flavors of graham crackers (chocolate or honey) to mix it up a bit. Cinnamon flavor would be good as well.
Take a tub of fat free or light whipped topping (I used light), thawed. Spoon about 2 tbsp on one graham cracker half and place the other half on top.
Freeze on a pan (I used a cake pan so that I can stack them for less room in freezer) overnight. Place in freezer bag and store in freezer.
If you want to make them fun and bright for the kids, add 1/2 tsp of rainbow sprinkles in the whipped topping before freezing them for 15 additional calories and 1g of sugar OR just for more texture, add 1/2 tsp mini chocolate chips for an additional 12 calories and 2g of sugar.
Serving size: 1 regular sandwich
Nutrition facts: 85 calories 2g total fat 68mg sodium 15g total carbohydrates 4g sugar <1g fiber 1g protein.