After a few months of writing this column, I realized I haven’t offered any dessert recipes. In keeping with many of your New Year’s resolutions (and perhaps post- Super Bowl guilt), I’m sharing a recipe that will both satisfy your sweet tooth and help you stay focused on your health goals. A colleague of mine brought this to a Christmas party and it was delicious – not too heavy- and it looked really elegant! Keep in mind that it is important to include fruits and low-fat dairy in your diet every day. Both can help thwart sweet cravings and offer plenty of good nutrition too!
Ingredients:
- 2 large ripe pears
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp. honey
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Low-fat vanilla yogurt or frozen yogurt (optional)
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut the pears in half lengthwise and place on a baking sheet cut side up. (You can cut a sliver off the other side so they sit upright.) Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and center core. Sprinkle with cinnamon, then top with walnuts and drizzle 1/2 tsp honey over each pear. Bake 30 minutes. Serve warm and top with yogurt or frozen yogurt, if desired.
Serves 4
Nutrition Information (including 1/2 cup vanilla low-fat frozen yougert per serving):
259 calories; 6g frat; 49gcarbohydrate; 6g protein; 82 mg sodium
Nancy Anderson, MPH, RD, LD is a registered dietitian at Nutrifit, Sport, Therapy, Inc. She works with individuals and families to make healthy eating a way of life.
