Sugar – it’s everywhere! It’s in almost everything we eat. It can be so difficult to find healthy foods when grocery shopping, and even when you do, who knows what is really in it? Why not make your own sweet treats that don’t have any added sugar? This way, you know exactly what is in your snacks and desserts.

Here are a few easy ideas of desserts without all that processed sugar so common in foods today. These are also fun to make with the kids!

Parfait- Layer berries and cut fruit with plain yogurt and whole-grain cereal.

Dessert Waffle- Briefly heat natural peanut butter in the microwave and spread on a toasted 100% whole grain homemade waffle (made of apple sauce, bananas, baking powder, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ground chia seeds, and 100% whole wheat or oat flour- just blended old fashioned oats in a blender). Top with sliced strawberries or bananas.

Grilled Fruit- Slice and grill or broil a banana, mango or peach. Once done, sprinkle with cinnamon, toasted almonds or pecans

Blueberry Frozen Yogurt- 3 cups Blueberries, 1/4 tsp Vanilla extract, pure, 2 cups plain yogurt or plain greek yogurt. Mix in a food processor and freeze, mixing every 45 min. Enjoy after mixing twice.

Snack Bar- Combine 1 cup pitted dates, 1 cup cashews, ¼ cup peanut butter and 1 Tbs water in a food processor and puree until mixture starts to stick together. Add a little more water if necessary to help mixture come together. Pick up date mixture and using your hands work to squeeze it together into one big clump. Slice into 12 even squares.

By: Dahlia Marin, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist