4 ‘Waistline-Friendly’ Chocolate Dessert Recipes

By Nutra Active Team

For those trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you’re aware of just how vigilant you have to be when it comes to your food choices. For those who have a sweet tooth, this can be especially challenging.

It’s one thing to be wary of how much carbs you’re consuming from white rice or pastas. But it’s another thing to have to deprive yourself of your favorite desserts altogether. Curbing your love of sugar, of course, is beneficial for your health over the long-term. And while we are definite supporters of long-term health preservation, we understand that every once in a while, we’d love to indulge in our favorite treats and just live a little.

Don’t think it’s possible to have your cake and eat it too? You don’t have to take our word for it – try out these recipes for yourself!

Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites

Not only can this simple combination of banana and chocolate be a convenient way to get your chocolate fix in, but it can also be a fun and light-hearted means for your kids to engage with food. If your kids (or even you) are not one to consume much healthy fruits in your diet, sneaking them in to your desserts in this manner can be a fun way to get yourself started. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to show them that ‘healthy’ foods can actually taste good as well!

Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites

Ingredients

• 3 medium bananas
• 1 cup of dark chocolate chips
• 2 tsp shortening
• Toppings: chopped peanuts

Directions

1. Slice each individual banana into 6 pieces before inserting a toothpick into all of them
2. Transfer them to a baking sheet (waxed paper-lined)
3. Freeze them for about an hour, until they are completely firm
4. Melt the shortening and chocolate using a microwave; stir well until smooth
5. Dip the sliced bananas in the mixture of chocolate while allowing excess to trickle off. You can dip in the toppings if you wish to as well
6. Place back on the baking sheet and freeze for at least half-an-hour
7. Serve

Nutrition (per 1 treat)

72 Calories | Fat – 4g (2g saturated fat) | Protein – 1g | Carbohydrate – 10g (7g sugar)

Low Carb Chocolate Mousse

Yes, healthy living and chocolate can go together.

This keto-inspired chocolate mousse recipes boasts less than 5 grams of carbs per serving and amounts to 227 calories per serving. Plus, it only uses 5 basic ingredients, leaving you with little excuse to try this simple dish out for yourself!

Note: It does pack quite a bit of fat with 24g per serving, so while it can be a relatively safe way of satisfying your sweet tooth, be sure to not go overboard!

This recipe yields 4 servings.

Low Carb Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients

• 2 oz cream cheese
• 2 oz unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 3 oz heavy whipping cream (whipped)
• Pinch of stevia (to taste)

Directions

1. Start by softening the butter and combining it with the stevia
2. Stir the mixture until it is blended fully
3. Proceed to add the cream cheese; blending it until smooth
4. Repeat the same steps with cocoa powder; adding it in and blending completely
5. Whip the heavy cream before slowly adding it to the mixture
6. Place them in glasses, and chill in refrigerator for half-an-hour

Nutrition (per serving)

227 Calories | Fat – 24g | Protein – 4g | Carbohydrates – 3g

Chocolate Quinoa Dessert ‘Snack’ Bars

We love snack bars for their convenience and portability. Fortunately, these Chocolate Quinoa Dessert Bars couldn’t be simpler to make as well. By simply adding everything to a stockpot, heating, refrigerating and cutting, you’ll have your very own homemade ‘dessert snack bar’ that can serve as a timely craving-buster for when you feel like munching something.

Chocolate Quinoa Dessert ‘Snack’ Bars

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup slivered almonds
• 2 tsp coconut oil (melted)
• ½ cup quinoa (puffed)
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2 tbsp vegan chocolate chips (melted)
• 1/8 tsp salt

Directions

1. Begin by melting the chocolate chips in a water bath or double boiler
2. In a small stockpot, place all the ingredients in, and then over medium heat
3. Constantly stir such that they are well mixed for about 3-5 minutes ensuring that the chocolate does not get burnt
4. Remove the mixture from the heat and spread it on a parchment paper (a 4 1/2 ‘’ by 6’’ rectangle)
5. Place it in a refrigerator for about half an hour to an hour, until hard
6. Using a sharp knife, cut into 6 bars
7. Store in the fridge using an airtight container

Nutrition (per serving)

120 Calories | Fat – 6g | Protein – 3g | Carbohydrates – 13g

Easy Chocolate Chia Pudding

Have you ever dreamt of having dessert for breakfast when you were younger? It may seem like a pipe dream, let alone for those who are watching their waistline. The good news is, this Chocolate Chia Pudding may very well make your dream a reality – it’s healthy enough for breakfast, yet tastes indulgent enough to be a dessert.

An easy-to-make and vegan-friendly recipe, adding it to your cookbook may change both your mornings and nights for the better – don’t be surprised if your family starts clamoring for it more than you’d expect!

Easy Chocolate Chia Pudding

Ingredients

• ¼ cup chia seeds
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• 3/8 tbsp liquid stevia
• 1 cup almond milk
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder

Directions

1. Whisk the chia seeds, cocoa powder, almond milk and stevia in a bowl, before covering and setting it in the fridge to chill overnight
2. In the morning, mix everything together and top with granola or fresh berries to serve
3. You may also blend the pudding with 1 tablespoon of almond butter before serving as well

Nutrition (per serving)

118 Calories | Fat – 8g | Protein – 4.5g | Carbohydrates – 9.8g