trying to be healthy - what can I have for dessert?

[Peachyblush2025]

I'm trying to eat clean - have cut out all processed and sugary stuff. So far, I've done 4 days. I don't have much to look forward to, don't enjoy alcohol so I used to use desserts and all sorts of sugary treats to pick myself up.

Now I'm trying to eat healthier, there really isn't much to look forward to. I gave up meat several years ago and don't enjoy being vegetarian as much I enjoyed eating meat but I did still have dessert. Now...nothing.

Is there anything I can have for dessert or a treat that isn't fruit? I can't really do one or two squares of chocolate as I frequently ate several big bars a night. I suspect I may just have to make do with fruit but I thought I would just ask.

Desperately want to lose weight and also suspect I may be pre-diabetic. I have a good 2.5-3 stone to lose and I want this to the year I do it.

Would you consider eating meat again? Farm fresh, ethical local meat? The satiating qualities of meat are unparalleled and I wonder if this is the missing part of your weight loss?

Make your own ice lollies. I love an ice lolly after dinner.
Yogurt/fruit
Dried fruit

Do you really need to have dessert? I find if I don't eat anything sweet, and don't want anything sweet, including fruit, and the sugar free options are the absolute worst if you are struggling with blood sugars and need to lose weight.

Almonds, blueberries and a couple of squares of dark chocolate. Microwave for a minute or so until chocolate is runny. Lovely and rich.

Medjool dates and walnuts are a good snack.

Truffles with just greek yoghurt and dark chocolate and then coat in nuts or cocoa.

I used to make a kind of energy ball to take with me when I cycled and it was just a mix of nuts, dried apricots and/or dates, pomegranate molasses, coconut, melted chocolate. Blitzed in a food processor and kept in the fridge.

If you are into cooking there are loads of recipes online for treats made without sugar which would meet the no UPF requirement.

As you continue on your new eating plan you may find you don't fancy what you used to consider a treat. Good luck.

Not a dessert per se...but I put whole peanut butter along the length of a celery stick, then chop it up into little bits to eat. Sometimes with a raisen on top. It's really sweet and the crunch is satisfying...and somehow feels like a nice treat!

🥱

You can make a chocolate mouse with dark chocolate and double cream. I bit of natural fat (the cream) is OK if you are on a low carb diet and the fat slows down sugar release from the chocolate so your blood sugar does spike as high.

I have also seen the recipes with cocoa and avocado. The banana ice cream works well too and tastes quite good with cocoa.

That sounds lovely

Thank you so much for all the posts!

Unfortunately, if I'm going to stick to it, I really can't have anything sugary. I just know what I'm like. I'll have a small piece of chocolate today and tomorrow I'll be eating all the chocolate bars and biscuits I can find.

I did stop all processed food and sugar a few years ago for about 3 months, didn't particularly exercise and I lose almost 2 stone. It was quite eye opening for me. Unfortunately, I started back again and over the years went back to my old habits.

There are some good suggestions though like the medjool dates, I'll try them.

I think the root thing is what a few posters have said though: I really need to wean myself off the idea of just having a treat or something to pick me up and find something else instead.

Unfortunately, as another poster said life is grim enough so this is hard to do!

I haven't had any sweet stuff for a few months now. I listened to the Allen Carr audio book about junk food and it's really changed how I view processed food.
If I want a dessert I'm happy with warmed up banana with yogurt/medjool dates/stewed apples. Even over Christmas I wasn't tempted when everyone else were scoffing the Quality street!

I would love to eat meat again. I used to eat meat all the time - and the last time I stopped eating sugar, I did still eat meat and it definitely made it much easier I think as I could have lovely tasty steak. I really miss it.

But without being too outing, I now feel too sad about an animal being killed for me to eat so even if there was high welfare behind it, I still wouldn't feel ok eating it. It's a shame.

Greek yoghurt with frozen blueberries or strawberries. It’s like ice cream!

Imagine if your 'treat' was to play a new tune on your guitar, or to finish that scarf you're knitting or finding time to talk to a friend, or read a book or play with your children/dog/cat. Can you see how you could find as much pleasure in doing something like that rather than eating sugar and fat?

As an aside I did a podcast recently where the host got to 40 years old before he realised he didn't need to 'reward' himself with a checkout bar of chocolate when he did his weekly food shop!

Also have you found Broccoli Mum on Instagram? She does a lot of weight loss vegan stuff.

My go to is overnight oats, only made there and then :)

right now cos its cold, I nuke my frozen berries, till they juice is running and beginning to bubble, add the oats and then a big dollop of my own HM greek style yoghurt - its so thick and creamy you can stand a spoon in it, Makes for a really luxurious pudding or brunch

Ice lollies - cheap ones like rocket lollies, fabs, not the ice cream types, take a while to eat and feel like having pudding with very few calories

Sugar free flavour jelly marshmallow

Squashed / blitz dates coated in peanut butter and dark chocolate.

plantbaes.com/viral-date-bark/

A Greek style yoghurt with some honey and nuts?

I just have a couple of chocolate buttons (literally two or three) and a cuppa. Less calories then yogurt so better for weight loss and I satisfy my sweet tooth. You don't have to deny yourself things you like to lose weight.

A couple of dried apricots and then get up and move around so you break the habit of sitting and having a pudding / sweet.

One of the teas is called pink lemonade, it is so nice, another rhubarb and custard is also lovely sweeten with a touch of honey if needed.

@Tacocatgoatcheesepizza just until it's soft and hot, I keep checking and stirring. Probably less than a minute

If you were being very indulgent you could add chocolate chips and cream

You’re trying to eat clean and you’re avoiding fruit?! Literally the most clean thing you can eat. Whole fruit. The natural and satisfying sugars wrapped up in fibre so no fructose spike. Fruit has been researched for decades and the people who eat whole fruit lose weight and stay very healthy. The human being diet and bright line eating both allow you fruit.

I do eat fruit, I'm just wondering if there is anything other than fruit I can have for dessert...but as I said most likely not. I meant I'm cutting out sugar as in chocolates, cakes, ice cream, biscuits and other processed foods.

Also, I know people are saying one or two chocolate buttons but as I have said a few times now I don't want to do that. It's a slippery slope for me so I would rather cut it out.

2 squares of dark chocolate isn't most people's idea of desert 😂

OP if you don't like being vegetarian then why are you?

Banana split?

My version is one banana, with a tsp of chocolate spread or almond butter, squirty cream and chopped nuts on top. Delicious