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Anyone who has tried dieting hits that moment when they crave a donut so much they considered cheating on their health goals. Don't give in! There are many dessert options out there that you can indulge in and still keep the weight off. Before breaking those goals you've made, give these 12 satisfying alternatives at try:
1. Guilt-free ice cream
Pints of Ben and Jerry's look especially appealing while you're trying to eat healthy. Instead, give in to that ice cream craving without ruining your diet with Arctic Zero pints. As a fat-free, dairy free and low-calorie option, it won't taste identical to regular ice cream, but it's surprisingly great even with it's lack of fat and sugar.
Arctic Zero comes in several flavors, but our favorites are Chocolate Peanut Butter and Purely Chocolate.
Buy it: ARCTIC ZERO Fit Frozen Desserts - 6 pack - Chocolate Peanut Butter and Purely Chocolate Creamy Pints
2. Chewy bananas + chocolate
Dig into a bag of chewy dried bananas dipped in dark chocolate. You'll satisfy your sweet craving while loading up on potassium and antioxidants. Your body will thank you for snacking on these instead of candies.
Buy it: Barnana Organic Chewy Banana Bites, Chocolate, 3.5 Ounce
3. Frozen bananas + chocolate
Or, if you'd prefer to have your bananas frozen instead of chewy, you can't go wrong with freezer banana bites. These are so satisfying when you're looking for that chocolatey frozen treat.
Buy it: Dianas Bananas Dark Chocolate Covered Banana Bites, 9.5 Ounce-- 12 per case
4. Extra dark chocolate
The darker the chocolate, the richer the flavor and the healthier it is for you. Everyone has their own limits for how dark their chocolate can be before things get too bitter, but we think 85% cocoa is a great balance between rich flavors and just a tad of sweetness.
Buy it: Lindt Excellence Extra Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa, 3.5-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12)
5. Fun-flavored yogurts
Dannon has fun dessert-flavored options, like Toasted Coconut Vanilla, Cherry and Raspberry, but Strawberry Cheesecake is our favorite. Plus, it's greek yogurt, so this sweet treat also packs in a punch of protein.
Buy it: Light and Fit Greek Strawberry Cheesecake Non Fat Yogurt, 5.3 Ounce -- 12 per case
6. Real fruit popsicles
Forget those typical popsicles filled with corn syrup and opt for a frozen treat made with real fruit. These Goodpops are 100% fruit juice, plus they don't contain any added sugars, artificial flavors or preservatives.
Buy it: Goodpop Organic Freezer Pops Variety 24 Count- 1.79 oz. pops
7. Granola bars (not candy bars)
Put down that Kit-Kat and pick up a Kind Bar instead. They have a long list of health benefits but still deliver that sweet and satisfying taste you're craving (with protein, too!). These granola bars come in a bunch of different flavors, but we're partial to Dark Chocolate Almond Mint.
Buy it: KIND Bars, Dark Chocolate Almond Mint, Gluten Free, 1.4 Ounce Bars, 12 Count
8. The better-for-you chocolate hazelnut spread
Nearly everyone loves Nutella, but it's definitely far from being healthy (Nutella's first two ingredients are sugar and vegetable oil!). But don't worry, you won't have to give up your chocolatey spread. Just pick Justin's instead. They make a great, all natural chocolate hazelnut butter, and guess what the first ingredient is? Dry roasted hazelnuts. Eat a spoonful straight from the jar, or top with fruit before digging in.
Buy it: Justin's Nut Butter Natural Chocolate Hazelnut Blend, 16 Ounce plastic jars (Pack of 3)
9. Sweetened rice cakes
When I'm craving something crunchy and sweet, I turn to Quaker's popped caramel rice snacks. They're so delicious, made with popped whole grain brown rice (10g whole grains per serving) and are only 110 calories per serving.
Buy it: Quaker Popped Rice Snacks, Caramel Corn, 3.52 oz
10. Dried fruit
When it comes to dried fruit, you have to watch out for brands that sneakily load their products with added sugar. Trader Joe's Freeze Dried Fruit is a great unsweetened option that still tastes sweet.
Buy it: Trader Joe's Freeze Dried Fruit Assortment (Blueberries, Strawberries, Pineapple)
11. Cinnamon almonds
Almonds top the charts for healthy nuts, and they're a great option for dessert. Craft Show makes a great, all natural batch of cinnamon almonds with only four fresh ingredients: almonds, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla.
But it: Roasted Cinnamon Almonds by Craft Show, 1 LB
12. Brewed chocolate drink
Crio Bru is gaining popularity, quickly and for good reason - it's a ground and roasted cocoa bean drink that brews just like coffee. Skip sugary hot chocolate and whip up this antioxidant-rich drink that it yummy hot or iced. Just add a little milk, coconut milk, healthy creamer or honey for a sweet, savory treat sans guilt.
Buy it: Crio Bru Brewed Cocoa 100% Roasted and Ground Cocoa Beans Variety Pack of 3
Your body will be happier and healthier when you choose these nutritious sweet treats over traditional desserts crammed full of fat and sugar.
