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{{label}}Laura Henshaw - 3 min read
01 October 2021
After some sweet treats that won’t cause a sugar blowout? AIA Vitality Ambassador and co-founder of Keep It Cleaner, Laura Henshaw shares some of her favourite recipes.
Healthy eating shouldn’t be about depriving yourself. Instead, it’s all about moderation and making some clever tweaks to make your meals even better for you. The same is true when it comes to sweet treats. With some easy swaps in your baking, you’ll end up eating something that not only hits the sweet spot – it won’t completely load you up with sugar, either (which means you avoid a crash and burn).
The other benefit of cooking up your own treats is the visibility it gives you over what goes into your body. Often, when you buy something from the shop and it’s got a long shelf life, it has probably also got a lot of preservatives and chemicals to get it to that expiry date. So, if you're buying something or making something that is natural, it's already a lot better for you.
Here are three of my favourite quick – and healthy – recipes that will satisfy your cravings for something sweet.
While butter and oil are fine in moderation, I’ve found that Greek yogurt makes a great alternative. It adds a surprising richness to recipes and is packed with protein.
Another regular substitute I make in my baking is rice malt syrup or various fruits in the place of refined sugar. Rice malt syrup is super sweet, so you only need a couple of tablespoons to stand in for one or two cups of sugar.
I make these once a week, and they are one of my favourite recipes. It’s a great one for using up those super ripe bananas you’ve been saving in the freezer. For this recipe, there is no such thing as overripe – the riper, the better! You don’t need to add much sweetener here because of the beautiful sweetness the bananas bring. If you like, you can make a big batch and freeze half to save time.
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This is one of our oldest and most special recipes. They are crunchy and delicious like the traditional version – but a much healthier alternative. Just beware they may not last very long – they are VERY delicious.
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Bliss balls are one of our favourite healthy treats. They are so easy, requiring no cooking time and a great healthy option for when you feel like something sweet for a 3pm pick-me-up.
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This article is brought to you by AIA Vitality – the science-backed wellbeing program that helps you make healthier choices (like cutting back on sugar) and offers great rewards for doing so. Learn more.
Laura Henshaw is a student, entrepreneur and model with a keen focus on mental and physical wellbeing. She co-founded Keep It Cleaner, an online health and fitness program, and will soon publish a book designed to encourage young women to live their best lives. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
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