My favorite things: Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt

I enjoy my desserts, so whenever I'm craving a sweet treat, Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurts are on the top of my list as a healthy option.

 

They are super creamy and packed with flavor. Each bar is only 70 calories and contains 6g of protein and 15% of your daily calcium requirement. There is no added sugar or corn syrup in these, which makes these WAY healthier than other "fruit" bars. They come in three flavors: strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry, all of which taste great. They also have a new line of smoothie packs, which are currently at Costco, and hopefully will be coming to more stores soon. Each box of 4 bars retails for a little less than $5, and in the Madison area, I know you can find them at Copps.

See how they stack up against competitors:

Yasso Strawberry Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar: 70 cals, 10g sugar, 6g protein, 15% calcium

Dole Strawberry Fruit Bar: 90 cals, 22g sugar, 0 protein, 0% calcium

Blue Bunny Strawberry Banana Frozen Yogurt, 1/2 cup: 110 cals, 18g sugar, 3g protein, 10% calcium

Find more information at www.teamyasso.com

Healthy Recipes | Dark Chocolate Orange Peels

I have a huge sweet tooth. For me to stay on track with my diet, it's important for me to have a lot of healthy, wholesome dessert options available to eat. Dark chocolate, either alone or with fruit, is one of my favorites.

Besides being incredibly delicious, it offers many health benefits including antioxidants to fight cancer and unsaturated fats to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Chocolates also stimulates endorphin production and contains serotonin which elevates mood.

The higher the cocoa content, the better the health benefit, so I recommend 75% or 85% cocoa. And don't wash down your chocolate with milk-- studies have shown that milk prevents the antioxidants present in chocolate from being absorbed properly by the stomach.

If you have a little extra time on your hands and want a super natural dark chocolate treat, try these candied orange peels. By boiling fresh orange peels in sweetened water, you can turn what is normally thrown away in the garbage into a sweet and chewy jelly, which is delicious when covered in melted dark chocolate.

Coconut Date Rolls

There is a point in every single day where I am craving something sweet. Most of the time, I can grab a piece of fruit and take care of my craving, but sometimes I need something a little bit more. In the past, I would stash candy in the house for those occasions, but since starting to eat better, I've needed to find healthier, more natural alternatives. This super simple recipe for coconut date rolls has quickly become one of my go-to recipes. You can often find these pre-made at natural food stores, but in my experience, my homemade creations are better than the store bought ones!

Ingredients:

Adapted from The Green Market Baking Book

2 cups fresh unpitted dates* (I recommend the Medjool variety)

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

*It's important to get unpitted dates. I've found pitted dates to be too dried out to form balls properly.

Directions:

1. Pit dates by slicing them lengthwise and removing the pit

2. Chop dates thoroughly with knife. Dates are very sticky, so I prefer to use a knife rather than a blender or food processor

3. Combine chopped dates and coconut in a bowl

4. Form into balls with hands

5. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 week