Getting started on a healthy eating plan can be energizing. Things can get tricky, however, when your sweet tooth kicks in. All of a sudden an apple just won’t cut it and you find yourself reaching for the cookies. Desserts don’t have to be the bad guys. Here are three simple swaps to use with your favorite box mixes that can give you that dessert fix without all the guilt.
1. Soda Cake
If you love cake but don’t want to mix in oil and eggs, soda can be the right alternative for you. Mix 1 can of your favorite diet cola (or diet cherry cola) with your favorite chocolate cake mix and bake as directed. If you prefer yellow cake, try a diet lemon-lime soda. You can also make cupcakes and top then with a low fat or fat free whipped topping.
2. Crushed Pineapple Cake
If you love pineapple upside down cake, this swap is for you. Mix 1 can (regular size, NOT the small ones) of crushed pineapple with a box of yellow cake mix and bake as directed. This sweet cake comes out extra moist but a little crumbly, so don’t expect it to cut as easy as regular cake. However, this cake would be perfect for a trifle layered with strawberries and whipped cream.
3. Black Bean Brownies
This recipe may seem the most strange, but it somehow works. Fudgy brownies can cure even the strongest chocolate craving, but they aren’t exactly guilt free. Cooking them with black beans adds fiber and keeps the chewy brownie texture that we all love. Get 1 can of low sodium black beans. Drain the beans in a strainer and rinse with cold water. Put the beans back in the can and fill the can back with water. Empty the beans and water into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Mix with your favorite brownie box mix and cook as directed. The brownies come out very fudgy (not cakey) and super chocolaty. You can’t tell there are beans mixed in, but your body will be glad you had the smarts to get them in.