It goes without saying that most desserts aren’t great for your health (with a few exceptions). But, hey, sometimes we all get those cravings for a bit of a sweet treat—especially when we’re out to eat at a restaurant or celebrating a special occasion. Unfortunately, though, oftentimes the desserts we choose to order when we’re eating out are some of the worst options out there. In fact, there’s one particular type of restaurant dessert that health experts warn against because it has so much added sugar.
To learn more about how dessert can affect our health and uncover one variety that can be especially bad for our wellbeing, we spoke to Dietitian Ashlee Welter. She told us that desserts with added toppings should be avoided as much as possible. Luckily, though, she also gave us a few tips for keeping our dessert selections as healthy as they can be. Find all of her expert insight below!
Desserts With Added Toppings
Desserts in general are typically filled with enough sugar and fat as it is—and the calorie content can be especially sneaky when you're out to eat and don't know exactly what your dessert will entail when you order it. When you add toppings to the mix, Welter warns, you're usually only making matters worse by upping the sugar and fat content.
"Any type of desserts that have added toppings will be higher in fat, calories, and sugar," she points out. "For example, a brownie topped with ice cream, caramel sauce, and nuts will be much more unhealthy than a plain brownie." And unlike when you bake brownies at home, a restaurant will be much more likely to load your dessert up with all the toppings they have to offer.
While it certainly won't kill you to indulge every now and then, and some celebrations will call for a cookie skillet or brownie with all the fixings, it's important that you don't make a habit out of ordering these loaded desserts. Otherwise, you can run into some serious health complications. "Consuming excess calories, fat and sugar can impact the waistline over time," Welter notes. "Additionally, frequently consuming too much sugar can put you at risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease." Yikes! Even on the short term, our sweet tooth can take a turn for the worse if we push it to the extreme. "Too much sugar can also cause fatigue, as you feel a sugar rush immediately after eating it, and then crash a couple of hours later," she warns. Guess we'll keep the toppings to a minimum, then!
Healthy Dessert Habits
Just like with anything else, a little bit of dessert every now and then is fine in moderation. Luckily, Welter has some advice when it comes to enjoying a sweet treat while out to eat without putting your health at risk. When you're consider desserts with those sneaking added toppings, you can always ask for the toppings to be left off. "For example, instead of ordering an ice cream sundae with chocolate, nuts and cool whip, order a plain bowl of ice cream," she says. "If ordering a cake or cookie based dessert, request they hold off on the whipped cream, chocolate sauce or extra toppings. This can save a few hundred calories." It's so simple, yet so effective!
Overall, Welter says you should practice portion control. One great way to do this is by asking for a kid's dessert! Often restaurants offer desserts on the kids menu, which are much smaller in size," she says, noting that "common kid's menu desserts are a bowl of ice cream or fruit."
If they don't offer smaller sizes, remember that it's okay to just take a couple of bites if you want to prioritize your health: "If you really can't resist a dessert, determine beforehand to only take 3-4 bites and save the rest for later," Welter says. And if you really don't think you'll be able to resist eating the whole thing, she offers a great solution. "Have the server place half of the dessert in a to-go box before bringing it out; this will help you to resist the temptation to eat the whole thing."
Finally, don't forget that sharing is another fantastic option. "It will be less tempting to consume
the entire thing on your own if you split a dessert between 3-4 different people at the table," she points out.
So, there you have it: while some of the tastiest desserts with all the fixings may be the worst for your waistline (and your overall health), there are definitely ways to have your cake and eat it too—literally.
