Skinny sweet tooth satisfied

I consider myself pretty lucky in the fact that I don’t have an all-consuming sweet tooth. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly have my vices when it comes to cravings — sugar just isn’t at the top of my list. Every now and then in the summer I’ll have a craving for ice cream and, of course, I’ll eat whatever dessert is served at parties or get-togethers. Not because I particularly want it but mainly because I’ll eat pretty much anything you put in front of my face.

We all know women who will scratch your eyeballs out for a Snickers bar during that certain infamous time-of-the-month, but for me ice cream, cake and chocolate consumption is easily kept to a minimum.

I realize that I’m in the minority here and so I set out to find some sweet treat confections that will satisfy even the worst sweet tooth, all while being completely figure-friendly.

If you’re a very bad girl or boy and eat sweets on a regular basis you’ll need something as close to the real deal as possible. Skinny Cow ice cream and chocolate candy products are so yummy you’ll never know they’re low calorie and low fat. These skinny treats even have a bit of protein and fiber to keep you satisfied.

Skinny Cow has an array of options and flavors to suit even the pickiest palate, from ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cones (my personal favorite — the mint chocolate cone — is OMG worthy), ice cream cups, and truffle bars in the frozen foods aisle, to heavenly chocolate or peanut butter crisps and dreamy milk or dark chocolate clusters in the candy aisle.

I love the fact that everything is individually portioned so that you never have to “eyeball” a sad little half cup of ice cream ever again. I mean, who eats only a half cup of ice cream?

If you like your sweet treats with a dose of healthy nutrition, you absolutely must try VitaMuffin’s VitaTops located in your grocer’s natural foods freezer. The Deep Chocolate is like a chocolate-covered multivitamin with 15 vitamins and minerals, plus a whopping 9 grams of fiber and even 4 grams of protein — all for 100 teeny-tiny calories and 1.5 grams of fat. It just doesn’t get much better than that, people.

VitaTops make a fast, easy, nutritious light breakfast or snack and are best served warm. Zap it in the microwave for a few seconds until the chocolate chips are ooey gooey. If you’re enjoying chocolate VitaTops for dessert, serve with a dollop of Skinny Cow ice cream for a really special treat. Now we’re talking!

If you’re like me and rarely eat sweets, it doesn’t take much to satisfy a craving. One of my favorite sweet treats is a Greek yogurt and fruit parfait with nuts and honey. In a mason jar or just a bowl, layer 1 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt, 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, a handful of FiberOne Honey Squares cereal, a few almonds or walnuts, and drizzle the whole thing with local raw honey. It makes a big portion and is way more satisfying than any candy bar, pastry or ice cream I’ve ever tasted. There is something magical about Greek yogurt and honey; they were meant to go together! And the best part — you can actually feel good about eating every last bite.

Leah Sullivan of Columbus has been on a productive journey to a healthier lifestyle and shares some of her experiences with Dispatch readers. Follow {Nourish} on Facebook.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.