7/12
Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas
This dessert looks fancy and indulgent, but it’s pretty simple to make and not that bad for your diet. Freeze some banana slices and melt some dark chocolate. Roll the bananas in the chocolate, and sprinkle some nuts on top if you want. Then put them back in the freezer until you’re ready to eat. Enjoy two or three slices (about 70 calories) at a time.
8/12
Nut Bar
Many store-bought ones aren’t much better than candy bars, so read the nutrition label. Look for natural ingredients and low added sugar, which some bars list as honey, corn syrup, or brown rice syrup, among other things. A well-balanced bar also should have 3 grams of fiber, 3 to 6 grams of protein, and around 175 calories. But this should be from nuts and fruit, not from “soy isolates,” “chicory root,” or other processed ingredients.
9/12
Poached Pears
To poach something is to simmer it gently in some liquid. You can do pears in lemon water, apple juice, red wine, and many other liquids. It’s a simple but elegant, healthy dessert — one poached pear can have around 100 calories. Serve a bit of the poaching liquid with each peeled and cooked pear. A touch of cream or creme fraiche might be just the right topping, but you can skip it if you’re watching fat or calories.
10/12
Sweetened Popcorn
Packaged versions aren’t so innocent — they can have up to 17 grams of sugar per 2-cup serving. But a cup of plain, air-popped corn has no sugar and only about 35 calories. You can control calories and fat if you sprinkle your own mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
11/12
Chocolate Milk
Don’t forget this delicious old-school treat. You can limit fat and sugar by making it yourself with skim or low-fat milk and cocoa powder.
12/12
Frozen Yogurt Bars
Brands vary, but it’s possible to get that creamy, sweet goodness for just 80 calories per bar. Bonus: they can have a decent dose of protein, too. There are loads of different flavors and toppings. Just make sure to check the label for calories, fat, and added sugar.
