Characteristics Of Desserts And Have A Healthy One

Mmmm . . . sweet, delicious dessert.

A dessert has been a standard part of most meals. It is a course that is eaten at the end of a meal. Traditionally, a dessert is sweet; however, there are some desserts that consist of strongly flavoured food, such as cheese. The word dessert means “to clear the table” or dessevir in Old French.

Dessert is part of daily meals in the U.S., Canada, Australia, most countries of Western Europe, and some other Commonwealth countries. They are optional in most Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

This course enchants mankind with its flavour and aroma such that it has created controversies, issues, and arguments. For example, with regards to its name, many chefs argue that the proper term for this meal is pudding or, in Ireland, afters. It is only considered a dessert if the course is made of fruit. Even the word sweet is considered idiomatic.

In the older times, the word dessert is considered a low-class word for this meal. The upper class and middle class preferred pudding. However, a dessert is considered better since it is more affordable to the masses.

Eating sweets, fruits, and nuts after a main meal has been a practice for ages past. However, the standardization of the dessert as part of a usual Western meal is quite recent. Its roots began with the rise of the middle class in the nineteenth century. Before that time, sweets were reserved for the upper class or a for a holiday treat. With the mechanization and automation of sugar production, the development of the popularity of desserts surged.

In some countries or cultures, desserts are part of a separate final course, making it a two-part meal. A savoury dish may be served first, followed by a sweet dish. In the United States, desserts can include anything sweet including beverages such as juice, milkshakes, and dessert wine.

The most common desserts include cakes, cookies, fruits, pastries, ice cream, and candies. With t

hese delicious food items, it is quite difficult to stick to a healthy diet. Most often, people succumb to the luscious, sinful temptation and gain weight.

It is almost impossible to resist the tasty magic of dessert other than having the will to give up on food that you love most. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer. There are ways to enjoy a delicious dessert without sacrificing your health.

Yes, smart solutions abound to make your dessert a healthy part of your diet. The secret here is to avoid overloading your dessert with sugar, calories, and fat. Of course, as with many things in life, you have to have willpower. Eating “harmful” desserts in moderation is also a solution; consuming a slice of high-calorie pie for one day is sensible.

Also, specially baked and formulated cakes, muffins, donuts, and pastries are available for the health-conscious consumer. Check the label and look for desserts with less butter, nuts, or creamy frosting.

Some of the healthy and tasty desserts in the market are low fat cookies, frozen one hundred percent juice bar, fresh berries mixed with low-fat cream, nonfat chocolates, angel food cake, pudding made with skim milk, low-fat ice cream or sorbet, and non-dairy frozen dessert. Of course, you can always eat fruits as they are naturally healthy.

You may also want to cook your own dessert. Here are some ways to make your favourite dessert recipes healthier.

1) Substitute whole eggs with egg whites or egg substitutes that are available in a health food shop.

2) Use apple sauce or prune puree instead of oil when baking dessert. They naturally retain moisture in cakes and breads.

3) Many recipes instruct you to use a lot of sugar . . . too much sugar. Use less sugar.

4) Many deserts have fruits as main ingredients. Prepare these recipes as they have less calories and fat than a standard chocolate or cream dessert.

5) Check out health websites for more healthy recipes.

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