Healthier treats to satisfy your sweet tooth

If you're anything like me then you LOVE to sit and nibble distractedly as you catch up on your Netflix shows or check up on your friends on Facebook. If this happens more than once per week you should invest in  healthier versions of your favourite treats so that you can continue enjoying your snack time without adding unwanted pounds.

Below are some of our favourite decadent, but healthier snack alternatives.

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Peanut butter and banana ice-cream

What you will need:

• ​NutriBullet (yes the same one you use to make your smoothies.
• Parchment paper

Ingredients:
​​Makes 2 servings (1 cup each)

• ​Two (2) ripe bananas
• ​Light peanut butter

Directions:

1. Peel both bananas and cut into 1/4 inch slices. 
2. Spread slices on a tray fully covered with parchment paper and freeze for 3 hours until rock hard.
3. Place the banana slices in the nutriBullet cup and add 2 tbsp of peanut butter and 3 tbsp of water
4. Blend intermittently for 2 minutes or until mixture is completely smooth, stopping every 15 seconds to shake contents back down to bottom of cup.
5. Place in a bowl and enjoy.

Note: If you decide to double the recipe to make more servings you will need to split the mixture into several batches and repeat steps 2-5 each time so that the NutriBullet doesn't get burnt out.

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Flourless, butterless, sugarless  oatmeal raisin cookies

What you will need:

• ​Baking tray
• Parchment paper
• 2 bowls for mixing

Ingredients:
​​Makes about 2 dozen bite-sized cookies or 12 larger cookies

• 2 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs for binding
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/3 cup coconut, finely shredded & unsweetened
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. ​Whisk the eggs and vanilla extract in a bowl.
3. Add the bananas to the egg mixture, stir until fairly smooth and set aside.
4. In another bowl combine the oats, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, raisins and baking powder.
5. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients.
6. Fold together all of the ingredients until well combined. (This cookie mixture will be a bit looser than standard cookie dough).
7. Scoop 2 tsp of the cookie mixture and place an inch apart onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Flatten slightly.
8. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes. I carefully turn then after 8 minutes just so that they bake evenly but it's not necessary.
9. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving so that the cookies can cool and harden.

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Berry and granola parfait

Instead of blueberry pie try this healthier, low-calorie dessert, packed with more than a third of the recommended daily value of calcium (plus vitamin B-6, niacin, riboflavin and folic acid).

Ingredients:
​​Serving size: 10 ounces or 1 1/4 cups) 

• 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup strawberries sliced in half
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup granola (the less sugar the better)

Directions:

1. Layer your ingredients in a pretty bowl: yogurt, fruit, granola, yogurt and finally fruit on top.​