Low-Sugar Desserts Your Kids Will Eat Up

Dessert: A kid’s favorite course and dad’s biggest headache. Parents, stand your ground! Sugar can negatively impact memory, academic performance, and metabolism. But that doesn’t mean you has to skip “dessert.” Need low-sugar dishes that are delicious? Look no further.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

All the gooey comfort of traditional chocolate chip cookies, with none of the sugar. How, you ask? With sugar alternatives such as stevia — which is 200 times sweeter than table sugar, so you can use a lot less — and sugar-free chocolate chips. These yummy cookies only have about 1g of sugar per serving.

Gelatin

Instead of the sugary stuff out of the box mix unflavored gelatin, fruit juice, and monk fruit sweetener — which like stevia is up to 200 times sweeter than table sugar. Top with sugar-free whipped cream and granola for a fancy parfait.

Pudding

Luscious chocolate pudding or old-fashioned banana pudding are easy to convert to low-sugar by substituting sugar for a granular sugar alternative or maple syrup for an extra flavor dimension. Kids eat with their eyes, so it’s easy to trick them into chowing down on these substitutes.

Brownies

Warm brownies, fresh from the oven, are a childhood staple. Sugar in them doesn’t have to be. Substitute it for agave nectar, maple syrup, or stevia, and the kids never have to know. Sure, you shouldn’t eat these substitutes all the time, but they’re perfect for desserts and better for you than table sugar.

Cheesecake

Cheesecake, but healthy — who knew?! This indulgent, silky-smooth cheesecake is just as good when you switch out refined sugar for a substitute. Top with fruit, which has sugar but also fiber which cancels out most of deleterious effects of pure fructose.

Ice Cream

There’s no reason not to stock your freezer with ice cream when there are so many low- and no-sugar varieties available. All your favorite flavors, all your favorite brands, and most coming in at under 4 grams of sugar! Just hide that “low sugar” label from your kids to prevent any protests.

Fruit

Fruit? I know! You’re that parent. But don’t call it dessert. It’s easier to say: We’re having fruit instead. And they’ll be happy. Toss your fruit salad with a little lemon juice to keep it fresh.