In this month’s featured Ask A Dietitian Q&A, a student asked for our advice on choosing healthier dessert option when dining at our residence cafeteria. Read on for our advice!
I have a sweet tooth and most of the time I will look for dessert in the cafeteria after dinner. Are there any healthy dessert options that you recommend at the caf (other than fruit)? Thanks!
Here are our top 5 tips and tricks to choosing a healthier dessert:
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- 1. You’re definitely on the right track for thinking of fruit for a healthy dessert option! If you’d like to jazz up your fresh fruit for dessert, try adding it to yogurt. If you feel the need for more sweetness, add a drizzle of honey.
2. Keep an eye out for the Get the Good Stuff logo next to certain desserts on the bakery screen. The Get the Good Stuff logo helps to identify healthier, more nutritious foods around the caf, including healthier dessert options. For example, check out our Get the Good Stuff Blueberry Oatmeal Loaf that that is regularly available at the bakery station. To read more about Get the Good Stuff, check out the following link https://dining.carleton.ca/nutrition/gtgs/
3. You have probably seen our wide selection of pies, crumbles, tarts and crisps. When choosing from these options, keep in mind that the less pastry on the dessert, the better. Fruit-based crumbles and crisps generally have less pastry and therefore less fat and calories than pies and tarts.
4. Did you know that the first bite of food has a much stronger taste and creates a stronger sensation than the next bite? And the more you eat, the less additional pleasure you get from each bite. So, try splitting dessert with friends. Even just a bite or two of dessert can help satisfy your sweet tooth.
5. Out of sight, out of mind! Try sitting on the side of the cafeteria opposite from the bakery station. You will be less tempted by the desserts if you don’t see them!
Lastly, don’t forget that it’s okay to indulge sometimes! If you have a fave dessert at the caf, don’t be afraid to indulge in it occasionally. Remember, there are no forbidden foods – eat the foods that you love in moderation!
Have questions about food and nutrition? Ask your on-campus Dietitian! Email us at AskaDietitian@carleton.ca and within 3 business days you will receive an e-mail with the answer to your question.
Monday, December 3, 2018 in Ask a Dietitian, Nutrition Blog
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