Healthy Sweet Treats

Easter can be a challenging time of the year when you’re trying to manage your weight. There’s an abundance of chocolate eggs and bunnies available, and it can take a lot of will power to walk past them in the supermarket and not put any in your basket.

Indulging doesn’t have to mean compromising your health goals. Cacao and cocoa provide a healthy alternative to chocolate and is the perfect addition to guilt-free snacks. While milk chocolate and white chocolate is high in sugar, fat and kilojoules, cacao and cocoa powders have been minimally processed and contain no added sugar.

Cocoa and cacao can offer the visual appeal of chocolate to a dish, while also giving you the intense and slightly bitter flavour that feels indulgent and satisfying. It’s easy to incorporate into recipes and a great way to save on kilojoules if you compare it to a traditional chocolate treat.

So, say no to the Easter eggs this year and try our dietitian-approved chocolate treats to curb your chocolate cravings!

Chocolate Breakfast Bliss Balls

Serves: 1

Preparation Time: 5 minutes + 10-15 minutes refrigeration

Ingredients:

• 1 Jenny Craig Toasted Berry Muesli
• 3 Medjool dates, pits removed and roughly chopped
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp hot water
• 2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp LSA powder

Method:

1. Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. The mixture should be sticky enough to stick/clump together. If it’s too dry add extra hot water to add moisture.
2. Roll the mixture into balls and place onto a lined tray or plate.
3. Place in the fridge to chill and firm up for 10-15 minutes.

Tip: The Bliss Balls make a great on-the-go breakfast, simply prepare them the night before and store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

Grocery Count (per serve): 1 Fruit serve, 1 ½ Limited Free Foods

Yoghurt Bark

Serves: 1

Preparation Time: 5 minutes + 1 ½ hours freezing

Ingredients:

•       2/3 cup natural fat free yoghurt
•       ¼ tsp vanilla essence
•       ½ cup mixed berries, sliced
•       2 tsp cocoa powder

Method:

1.     Combine yoghurt and vanilla essence in a bowl.
2.     Line a baking tray with baking paper and pour the yoghurt mixture onto the baking paper.
3.     Spread the mixture out evenly and sprinkle mixed berries and cocoa powder on top.
4.     Place in freezer for 1 ½ hours or until set.
5.     Remove from freezer and break into bite sized pieces.

Enjoy!

Tip: Try a different mix of fruit, such as grapes, passionfruit and kiwi fruit.

Grocery Count (per serve): 1 Dairy serve, 1 ½ Limited Free Foods

Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Serves: 1

Preparation Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

•       1 small frozen banana, chopped
•       2 tsp cocoa powder
•       ½ cup skim milk
•       1/3 cup natural fat free yoghurt
•       A handful of ice cubes (optional)

Method:

1.     Place all ingredients into a blender and blend for 1-2 minutes until smooth and combined.
2.     Pour into a medium-sized class and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Tip: If you’re following the Jenny Craig Program and have a fat serve on your menu, try adding 2 tsp almond meal or 1 tsp of peanut butter to your smoothie. Alternatively, you could add 1 tsp LSA from your Limited Free Food options.

Grocery Count (per serve): 1 Fruit serve, 1 Dairy serve, ½ Limited Free Food

Jessica Percic, Dietitian

Accredited Practising Dietitian

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Jessica is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and the Company Dietitian at Jenny Craig. She has a Bachelor of Nutrition Science and Master of Dietetics from Monash University in Melbourne. Jessica likes practising a healthy and balanced lifestyle, not just with food but also exercise, and is passionate to help support others to do so too.