Posted on June 18th, 2008 by admin

Either the diet stuff doesn’t make up for real dessert (you still feel deprived) or you eat so much you’re back up to a thousand calories. A so-called “diet” candy bar has two hundred fifty calsnot inconsiderable; a diet cookie has one hundred cals, and who wants just one cookie? The candy bar is more apt to be made from “healthful” ingredients—carob instead of chocolate, honey instead of sugar—than it is to be low in calories. The famous diet caramel candy you’re supposed to eat three pieces of before a meal to cut your appetite—I went through a whole box (a month’s supply) in a day and a half just like regular candy.

You probably have your own thoughts about diet desserts . . . certainly strawberries, raspberries and melon are on limits if you don’t eat too many, though I lie low with fruit because it’s loaded with sugar, albeit “natural.” I use cases of D-Zerta (strawberry, raspberry, cherry, orange, lemon, lime) at thirty-two calories a bowl. Use one fourth the water directions call for so that one envelope makes only one serving, not four, of nice chewy jelly. Make two envelopes at a time.

If you do like diet dessert, here’s a good recipe:
Rich Chocolate Mousse
1 envelope D-Zerta chocolate pudding
2 envelopes Sweet ‘n Low, Sugar Twin or other artificial sweetener
1 rounded tablespoon instant Sanka, Brim, or regular coffee
2 cups skim milk
2 tablespoons (2 ounces) Hershey chocolate syrup 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) brandy

Empty chocolate pudding mix, sweetener and regular or caffeine-free coffee into saucepan. Add milk. Stir vigorously with a fork until pudding dissolves. Add chocolate syrup. Place on fire and stir constantly until pudding comes to a boil (about 10 minutes). Add brandy. Remove from fire and pour into dishes. Serve warm or chilled. Package instructions say one envelope serves four but those are very skimpy portions. This recipe serves three. One hundred forty calories per serving and quite delicious.

Tags: back up to a thousand calories, Chocolate Mousse, chocolate pudding mix, diet, Diet Desserts, eat so much, healthful ingredients, real dessert