Tricked You Thin Temptations Thursday

I have an outrageous sweet tooth.  There, I’ve said it and it’s out there globally, no take backs!  I do not understand the meaning of “this is too sweet and gooey”  Those words have never passed these lips.  There have been days when my cravings have had no bounds.  Believe me, I may be a personal trainer and Pilates Reformer coach and lover of fitness and all things veggie and healthy, but please understand I do not have broccoli-covered angel wings or wear a halo of raw cauliflower florets!  I love me some warm gooey brownies right out of the oven, chocolate anything, Italian pastries, cream puffs, heavy sweetened freshly whipped cream and ICE CREAM just to scratch the surface of my endless pit of sweet passions.

So what’s a girl to do?  EAT THEM!  Okay, get back up on your chair.  Yes, that’s right.  Every once in awhile, go ahead and indulge… but (ah, you knew that was coming, right?)  But… maintain a healthy daily clean eating nutrition fuel intake and regularly exercise so you can splurge on occasion.  It’s like financial fitness:  budgeting and savings.  You have to stay on track with your money and put that pocket change and bills into your mad money jar, so that when you REALLY want something, you will have a reserve of cash with which you can obtain said lusted-after item without the guilt of blowing your budget.  

It’s the same principle.  You eat lots of fruits, veggies, fish, chicken, and all the healthy items.  That’s the key.  Then you can afford to indulge in a little sumin-sumin – but not a HUGE supersaver portion.  Serve yourself or order one portion only – never eat out of the original container.  If you’re out, split your dessert.  Eat it S-L-O-W-L-Y, savor every morsel, every crumb, and every spoonful.  Be in the moment for sure!  If you’re going to have it, enjoy it without guilt.  I have actually slowed myself down when eating a donut by using a knife and fork and not scoffing it down in three bites without every really tasting it!  Take time to notice the smell, the texture, the temperature of it in your mouth, how the flavors dance on your tongue.  Oh yeah, now you’re understanding, yes?  

Even better – here’s a little recipe that I found that will help keep you on the straight and narrow while satisfying your sweet tooth.  It’s one of my favorites, so exercise your sweet tooth options by making it (which only takes minutes) and ENJOY in moderation! And remember - NEVER EVER use food as a "treat" or "reward" - you're not a dog.  Have one because you want one... end of story.


Blessings and health,
Coach Linda

Linda’s Favorite Mousse Recipe (Generic)
16 oz. fat-free Cool-Whip
1 package (9 oz.) JELL-O gelatin – your flavor choice
1 8 0z container fat-free yogurt – your flavor choice

Thaw Cool Whip (save about ½ cup for topping dessert).  Stir in yogurt and JELLO.  Spoon into dessert dishes and refrigerate 20 minutes.  Top with a dollop of the reserved Cool Whip.  Serve.  

The beauty of this recipe is that you can add lemon yogurt and lemon jello and have a lovely lemon mousse, or add strawberry yogurt, strawberry JELL-O and spread into a premade graham cracker pie shell, top with strawberries, and have a no-bake strawberry pie in an hour!  Or, you can take berry JELLO, blueberry yogurt, and layer fresh blueberries, the mousse mixture into a pretty parfait dessert glass.  Voila!  Beautiful, classy and deeeelish!

I recently made this dessert for a special Valentine’s Day dinner (I LOVE pumpkin):

LINDA'S FAVORITE PUMPKIN PASSION MOUSSE

What You Need
3 cups cold fat-free milk
2 pkg. (1.5 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP LITE or COOL WHIP Sugar Free Whipped Topping

Make It!
Beat milk and pudding mix in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Blend in pumpkin and spice. 
Stir in COOL WHIP. 
Refrigerate 1 hour.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
PER SERVING 
Calories 60 
Total fat 1g  
Saturated fat 1g  
Cholesterol 0mg  
Sodium 240mg  
Carbohydrate 12g  
Dietary fiber 1g  
Sugars 5g  
Protein 3g  
Vitamin A 110%DV  
Vitamin C 2%DV  
Calcium 8%DV  
Iron 4%DV  


As a special St. Patrick’s Day dessert, here’s another recipe I got from www.kraftbrands.com.  It’s a little more calorie-laden, but again, once in awhile you can indulge:

Irish Cream Chocolate Mousse

What You Need
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
1-1/4 cups cold milk
1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Make It!
Beat pudding mix, milk and liqueur in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP.

Spoon into dessert dishes. Refrigerate 20 min.  Top with remaining COOL WHIP and berries. 

Kraft Kitchen Tips
Size-Wise
One serving of this chocolate mousse goes a long way on flavor.
Non-Alcoholic Version
Omit liqueur. Prepare using 1-1/2 cups milk.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

PER SERVING 
Calories 200 
Total fat 7g  
Saturated fat 6g  
Cholesterol 5mg  
Sodium 310mg  
Carbohydrate 29g  
Dietary fiber 1g  
Sugars 21g  
Protein 3g  
Vitamin A 2%DV  
Vitamin C 4%DV  
Calcium 6%DV  
Iron 2%DV