It's summer. Personally, that means three months of attempting to get healthy and one month of giving up. So far, I've used my vacation time to continuously reinvent myself and jump on every passing trendy short-term diet. I still haven't found a diet that works perfectly with my body and lifestyle. But I have discovered that 1. Dieting is hard and 2. Managing cravings during a diet is harder.
Through the constant cleanses and tedious meal prep, I had to learn to make snacks that met diet terms (gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free etc.) while resembling something fresh out of a bakery. The key to making yummy diet desserts is substituting traditional recipe ingredients with fruits and veggies. Here's 7 healthy snacks in disguise that I've tried out.
1. Vegan Chocolate Avocado Pudding
Real talk. I make this recipe weekly and swear by it. It tastes exactly like regular chocolate pudding. You could cover it in fruit and shredded coconut and tell everyone you're eating a smoothie bowl because it's so healthy you basically are.
Healthy Secrets: It's mostly avocado and its sugar-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
2. Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies
Thesis: These are the perfect snacks for students. Evidence: It only costs 99 cents for a can of chickpeas and the only cooking equipment you need to complete this recipe is a food processor, (which you can also use to make the avocado pudding above).
I have baked these delicious chocolate chip cookies twice. Both times they remained Just–Out–Of–The–Oven–Melt–In–Your–Mouth squishy for the entire week that I had them, proving that beans are definitely a fruit with magical properties.
Healthy Secrets: It contains chickpeas and is sugar-free.
3. Chocolate Coconut Squares
Wrestling Announcer Voice: And in this corner, they are gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and contain almonds, pecans, and dates. It's Chocolate Coconut Squares! This dessert dupe will give you a healthy dose of protein and maintain your No Dairy diet while looking and tasting like something your mom would proudly bring to a bake sale.
Healthy Secrets: They are gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and high in protein.
4. Chocolate Protein Powder Mug Cake
This mug cake is fantastic for someone watching what they eat because the recipe only makes one serving. It literally has built-in portion control. Also, it's already in its serving container and is therefor perfect for busy humans on the go. It might even be healthy enough to take to the gym.
Healthy Secrets: It contains applesauce instead of sugar and is high in protein.
5. Strawberry And Beet Pancakes
Some people forget that breakfast often involves encounters with desserts. Sugary cereals and chocolate pastries anyone? To avoid those morning cravings, make these literal breakfast cakes and freak out your friends when you tell them how the pancakes got their unique pinkish colour.
Healthy Secrets: It contains beets and strawberries and is gluten-free and sugar-free.
6. Watermelon Lime Ice Pops
This recipe is an essential if you find yourself wanting something fruity and boozy but have had to cut out alcohol. This summer treat tastes like a frozen watermelon mojito and will answer all of your prayers.
Healthy Secrets: It's only watermelon and lime juice.
7. Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
This recipe merges the edible raw cookie dough trend with breakfast and health. You don't even have to put them on oats . You could take the "cookie dough balls", roll them in dark chocolate pieces, and then eat them on the go.
Healthy Secrets: It contains yogurt, bananas, and dates and is high it potassium and protein.
Use these guilt-free snacks to stay committed to your diet. If you're not currently on a cleanse, use the recipes as inspiration to create more healthy desserts and impress your friends with your ability to make edible oxymorons.
Snack on my dudes.