Eating well on the cheap tip #5: Dessert can be affordable, healthy, and delicious

Cutting out sugary junk food does not mean that you have to cut out all desserts. We all enjoy sweet treats, so it is important to know how to include scrumptious, healthy, and affordable desserts in your menu. However, reducing the amount of sugar in the food we consume is one of the major challenges to creating a healthy diet.  Avoid processed desserts packed with sugar, such as cakes, cookies, pastries, and muffins, and instead find ways to shift your thinking about what dessert can be. For example, fresh fruit can make a sweet, healthy, and  inexpensive dessert.

• Popsicles: Freeze your own 100% fruit juice popsicles. If you don't have a Popsicle tray you can use an ice-cube tray and freeze with small plastic spoons as handles.
• Home baked items: For healthier baked goods it is much more affordable to make your own. It's also a great way to spend time with family or friends. Oatmeal cookies with rolled oats (whole grains!) are a good example of a healthier baked option. In addition you can always reduce the amount of sugar recipes call for – many taste just as good with less sugar.
• Yogurt: Buy a large container of plain yogurt and you can make each serving unique by adding a little sweetener such as honey and cut up pieces of fresh in season fruit. Making your own frozen yogurt is fun, too!
• Frozen treats: There are many delicious frozen treats such as fruit, yogurt, and smoothies. Try freezing grapes, bananas (cut into pieces before freezing), peaches (cut into pieces before freezing), or berries. For an amazing dessert pour a little dark chocolate sauce over the frozen fruit. Yummy!
• Chocolate: Many of us have chocolate cravings. Dark chocolate is actually quite high in anti-oxidants so enjoy the occasional square of dark chocolate (70% or higher is best) as a wonderful treat.