Healthy Easter Treats

During last winter‚Äôs holiday season, South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery shared a list of HOLIDAY TREATS that are safe for patients watching their weight. This year, don’t opt out of Easter celebrations because you’re afraid to gain a few pounds! We’ve got some ideas on how you can celebrate without sacrificing your figure and stay toned in time for bikini season. Add these Easter desserts to your menu and enjoy a Healthy Easter!

Healthy Easter Treat: Lemon Squares

The trick to a healthy dessert is to steer clear of refined sugars and white flour. Thankfully, there is a variety of products you can substitute those ingredients with.

Create a crust using coconut flour, splenda , salt and coconut oil mixed together in a food processor. Press the crust into a greased 8X8 pan and cook for 10 minutes. While the crust is cooking, combine the ingredients for the filling: lemon juice, splenda, lite tofu, lemon zest and cornstarch. After letting the crust cool, pour the filling on top and cook for 26 minutes. Let it cool and refrigerate it for two hours to let the filling set. 

Ingredients: Coconut flower (1 cup), splenda (¼ cup), salt (½ tbs), coconut oil (¼ cup), lemon juice (¼ cup), lite tofu (1 cup), lemon zest (1 tbs), cornstarch (½  tbs).

Healthy Easter Treat: Vanilla-Lemon Berry Parfaits

Parfaits provide your body with many useful nutrients that help you stay healthy. Depending on the ingredients, you can enrich your diet with dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, and more! Greek yogurt is high on vitamin C, as well as polyphenols which help prevent fat from forming. You will stay full longer and lose weight while still enjoying a delicious healthy dessert even kids will love.

Mix low-fat greek yogurt with fat-free vanilla pudding, lemon curd and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, stir together honey, lemon zest, lemon juice and mixed berries or fresh fruit. Assemble the parfaits by alternating the yogurt mixture with the berry mixture. Garnish with fresh mint.

Ingredients for 1 serving: Fat-free vanilla pudding (3.5 oz), lemon curd (1tbs), vanilla extract (¬Ω tbs), honey (2 tbs), lemon zest (1 lemon), lemon juice (1 tbs), mixed berries or fresh fruit (3 cups), low-fat greek yogurt (1 cup), fresh mint (optional).

Healthy Easter Treat: Crispy Easter Nests

Crispy Easter Nests are not only delicious, they’re a great decoration for your Easter table. Anyone can enjoy these healthy snacks without having to worry about the extra pounds.

Mix a few drops of green food die in a bag of sweetened flake coconut, and set aside. Melt Marshmallow Fluff until soft and stir in Rice Krispies and dark chocolate chips. Put a few spoonfuls of the cereal mixture in a cupcake liner, and let cool. Then, fill the nest with some coconut and top with a few Jordan almonds.

Ingredients: 1 bag sweetened flake coconut (14 oz.) , food dye, 1 Marshmallow Fluff (7.5 oz. jar), Rice Krispies (3 cups), Dark Chocolate Chips (¬Ω cup), Jordan almonds (¬Ω cup).

Healthy Easter Treat: Chocolate-Covered Fruit

The chocolate-covered fruits are a great addition to the list of your healthy Easter recipes. As you may know, Dark Chocolate is better suited for those who try to maintain a healthy diet and keep their weight in check.

Microwave high-quality dark chocolate chips on 50-percent power (stirring every 30 seconds) until the mixture is smooth. Then, dip strawberries, grapes or banana slices into the melted chocolate mixture, or drizzle the mixture on top of the fruit. For an extra special finish, roll the fruit in chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate Chips (2 cups), fruits and berries (bananas, strawberries, grapes, pineapples, etc), chopped nuts (optional).

Not the baking kind? Annie’s cheddar bunnies are an excellent festive treat you can pick up at the grocery store. They also come in a whole-wheat variety.

Need Help Achieving Your Body Makeover Goals?

If you eat a nutritious diet and exercise regularly, yet have stubborn fat or loose skin obscuring your curves, South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery can help. Call (954) 565-7575 to book an appointment with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.