| Goodbye sweet days of chocolate cake, | | | | What you eat is important. But understanding how |
| sayonara my beautiful banana split, farewell my | | | | much you're eating is crucial. Creativity is also |
| flavorful flan and hasta la vista my scrumptious | | | | essential. Try new recipes and satisfy your sweet |
| apple pie. I know we've shared some savory | | | | tooth using sensible substitutions. After all, as |
| mouthwatering memories together but there's | | | | Forest Gump once said, "Life is like a box of |
| just no room for you in my new balanced healthy | | | | chocolates, you never know what you're going to |
| diet. It's time for me to buckle down and ignore | | | | get."Here are five deliciously divine desserts that |
| my sweet tooth from sending me back your | | | | are low in guilt and high on flavor. Go ahead... |
| way.Did you know that the word desserts spelled | | | | indulge!Apple Cider-Caramel CakeCider "syrup" is |
| backwards spells stressed? For many of you out | | | | folded into this cake for a rich caramelized |
| there that's exactly what it brings. Trying to stop | | | | flavor.2-1/4 cups apple cider, divided |
| yourself from your favorite temptations can | | | | 2-1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided |
| trigger a terrible amount of tension. It's no | | | | 1 Tbsp. stick margarine or butter |
| wonder that something as delicious as treats can | | | | 3 cups sliced peeled cooking apple (such as |
| turn into a dieter's worst nightmare.Put away | | | | Braeburn, Rome or McIntosh) |
| your handkerchief because it's time to kiss and | | | | Cooking spray |
| eat up! You don't have to reach for the sky to | | | | 2-1/2 Tbsp. dry breadcrumbs |
| get to your pie. It is possible to dig into delicious | | | | 1/2 cup stick margarine or butter, softened |
| desserts without damaging your diet. You | | | | 1 Tbsp. grated lemon rind |
| shouldn't feel restricted from eating foods you | | | | 1 (8-oz.) block fat-free cream cheese |
| enjoy. Depriving yourself will most likely just lead | | | | 3 large eggs |
| you on the road to dieting disaster when | | | | 6 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, divided |
| willpower runs out. Instead of giving up your | | | | 3 cups all-purpose flour |
| favorite treats, think about what goes in them | | | | 1/2 tsp. baking soda |
| and use some imagination.The most common diet | | | | 1/4 tsp. salt |
| destroyers in desserts are dairy and fats. Other | | | | 1 cup low-fat buttermilk |
| nutritional factors to consider may include how | | | | 1 tsp. vanilla extract |
| much sugar, cholesterol and sodium the product | | | | 1 Tbsp. powdered sugar1. Bring 2 cups cider to a |
| contains. It's important to always check the | | | | boil in a large, heavy saucepan over high heat. |
| nutritional facts on the sides of packages. Don't let | | | | Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 20 minutes). |
| the words low fat or low carb fool you. It's | | | | Reduce heat to medium-high; stir in 1/2 cup |
| always good to compare items and read the | | | | granulated sugar. Cook five minutes or until sugar |
| labels carefully. Make sure you know what you | | | | dissolves and cider is thick and dark-colored, |
| are buying. Simple substitutions can make a world | | | | stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool one |
| of difference.An average ice cream bar can | | | | minute. Stir in 1 tablespoon margarine. Stir in |
| contain 180 calories and 12 grams of fat -- not | | | | apples; cook 15 minutes over medium-high heat or |
| exactly a dieter's friend. And some of the | | | | until the liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently. |
| best-known brands are significantly higher than | | | | Remove from heat; cool. (If apple mixture |
| that. A Dove Bar has 350 calories and 22 grams | | | | hardens, place it over low heat until softened).2. |
| of fat, while the new Breyer's Magnum Bars pack | | | | Preheat oven to 325 degrees.3. Coat a 12-cup |
| 14 grams of saturated fat (20 grams total fat) | | | | Bundt pan with cooking spray; dust with |
| each!What's the alternative, you ask? How about | | | | breadcrumbs.4. Combine 1-1/2 cups granulated |
| a rich, smooth pudding pop? The store-bought | | | | sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, lemon rind and cream |
| versions average 100 calories and 2 to 3 grams | | | | cheese in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of |
| of fat, but you can cut the fat even further and | | | | a mixer until well blended (about five minutes). |
| add a little nutrition by making your own.Susan | | | | Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each |
| Burke, eDiets VP of Nutrition Services, says: "You | | | | addition. Beat in 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Lightly |
| can modify any recipe, especially desserts, to | | | | spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a |
| make it healthy. The recipe section on our site | | | | knife. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add |
| can give you great ideas. It can be as simple as | | | | flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with |
| using egg whites instead of a whole egg or | | | | buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. |
| reducing the amount of sugar in a recipe. If the | | | | Fold in apple mixture. Pour into prepared pan; bake |
| recipe calls for a cup of sugar, use only one-third | | | | at 325 degrees for 1-1/2 hours or until a wooden |
| cup instead. There are even fat-free chocolate | | | | pick inserted in center comes out clean.5. Combine |
| chips so you can replace the full-fat | | | | 1/4 cup cider, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup |
| ones."However, some desserts are easier to | | | | lemon juice and vanilla; let stand until sugar |
| modify then others. For example, it's hard to | | | | dissolves, stirring occasionally. Cool cake in pan |
| modify angel food cake because of its high sugar | | | | five minutes, and pierce with a wooden skewer in |
| content. But there are sugar substitutes, such as | | | | several places. Pour cider mixture over cake in |
| Splenda, that are great for baking. The key to | | | | pan, and let stand 10 minutes. Remove from pan, |
| staying healthy is making healthy choices | | | | and cool completely on a wire rack. Sift powdered |
| wherever you go. The best thing to do is | | | | sugar over top of cake.Makes 18 servings. |
| EXPERIMENT, EXPERIMENT, EXPERIMENT!"There | | | | Nutritional values per serving: 286 calories (22 |
| is nothing wrong with digging into your favorite | | | | percent from fat), 7.1g fat (1.6g sat, 3g mono and |
| delights. But even diet-friendly desserts can | | | | 2g poly), 5.8g protein, 50.1g carbohydrate, 1.2g |
| become hazardous to your waistline. Moderation is | | | | fiber, 39mg cholesterol, 1.4mg iron, 253mg sodium |
| the key to enjoying treats every now and then. | | | | and 94mg calcium. |
| Remember to always check the serving size. | | | | |