Many people mistakenly believe that when you adopt a healthy eating lifestyle, you can’t enjoy some of your favorite treats, like ice cream, pudding, and cake. However, this is simply not true. There are many healthy alternatives for these and other favorites, and you don’t have to spend an hour in the kitchen making them.
Many may find the raw food diet attractive for its purported health benefits but believe that they don’t have the time (or the money) to make the foods available on the diet. Many also think that their favorite treats aren’t allowed on the diet, making it less attractive. However, there are many recipes for making some of your favorite foods — even ice cream — that are delicious, nutritious, and very easy to make. Here are just a few simple raw desserts that you may consider trying out:
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Ice Cream
You can make many types of delicious raw “ice cream” by simply blending up frozen fruit. Bananas are especially sweet and creamy when they have been blended, making them taste almost like the real thing. You can then add other flavoring if you like, such as cacao for chocolate.
Check out these instructions on the basic banana recipe from Rawified, or try some of these more complex variations using cashews and other ingredients from Raw Food Living.
Pudding
The simple avocado can make a mean guacamole or burger dressing, but you may not think of it as a sweet treat. Yet you can use this nutritional powerhouse to make a simple pudding. Simply blend up a ripe avocado with some cacao powder and a bit of honey or other sweetener and you have a delicious and creamy pudding.
Check out these recipes for chocolate pudding from The Rawtarian and The Nourishing Gourmet. You can make other flavors using fruits like blueberries and strawberries. Experiment to find the one you like best!
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Cookies
The best part about making cookies is eating the cookie dough. You can simulate the flavor of many of your favorite cookie doughs in raw cookies/energy balls. These are made by blending up nuts (usually cashews), dates, and the flavorings of your choice. They are delicious, easy to make, and ready to take with you to work or for a post-workout snack.
Check out these fudge babies from Chocolate-Covered Katie and these energy balls from Dairy Free Betty and Deliciously Ella. Chocolate-Covered Katie also offers many variations for your other favorite cookie flavors.
Making delicious and healthy sweet treats doesn’t have to be hard. These simple raw recipes usually involve just blending up a few basic ingredients, and then you’re done. You’ll have a wonderful treat in no time, and you won’t have to feel guilty eating it.
What other simple raw desserts do you enjoy? Share your recipes in the comments!
About the Author:
Bridget Sandorford is a freelance food and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching pastry chef school California. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her first cookbook.
(Add a bit more if you’re a curry fiend like me)
