With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s sweet-treat-o-clock! Valentine’s Day is known as the day of love and… for the influx of sweet chocolates and insatiable hunger for candies; however, these little treats can easily be detrimental to your health. So are you somebody who doesn’t want to give up their sweets yet still maintain a healthy diet? Well, then you are in luck as there are many options to put a spin on your favorite baked goods to satisfy your sweet tooth, without neglecting your daily nutrients.
Banana Bread:
Starting with a classic, banana bread doesn’t have to simply be a sweet treat. Bananas on their own are already considered very nutritious and even carry the title of the first “superfood.” Also, even the American Medical Association endorsed bananas as a healthy food for children and a treatment for celiac disease. When put into a baked good nutritionist Maggie Michalczyk claims, “Banana bread is moderately healthy depending on what ingredients you use to make it.” She is referring to the capability of substitution. For instance, you can substitute fatty butter for coconut oil, a more natural option. Additionally, you can opt for organic flour rather than all-purpose. I myself have experimented with grinding oatmeal to make oat flour when short of all-purpose, and it made a rather successful banana bread loaf. Lastly, you can switch out artificial sweeteners for honey or even maple syrup.
Recipe I used: https://cookieandkate.com/healthy-banana-bread-recipe/
Black Bean Brownies:
If you are looking for a healthy dessert that doesn’t TASTE healthy, black bean brownies are for you. By integrating the can of black beans sitting in the back of your pantry, it can not only save you a trip to the grocery store for ingredients but can also be healthier. Using black beans you can effectively replace the use of not only fats and oil but also the use of flour in brownies. Black beans, which are high in fiber, protein, and antioxidants, can make these brownies prove to be a satisfying treat while also promoting digestive health and potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Plus, these brownies are nothing short of decadent, gooey, and most definitely not black-bean tasting.
Popular recipe: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/
Baked Oats:
Oatmeal has proved popular since the pandemic, with the carbohydrate gaining traction on social media. Many people have begun to figure out ways to incorporate oats into their diets, finding new recipes such as baked oats. Baked oats have gained popularity due to their resemblance to cake. By combining and baking oats, baking soda, banana, milk, egg, sweetener, and any additional toppings of choice, baked oats are not only simple to make but extremely versatile. I have tried making this recipe, even adding protein powder, and was pleasantly surprised. For lacking the large amounts of sugar, butter, and oil in a normal cake it was surprisingly soft, light, and airy. However, you could tell that it was made with oatmeal. Essentially, baked oats are a little more complex to make than regular oats, but much healthier than eating a cake. 
Recipe I used: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/baked-oats/
Nevertheless, holidays are meant to be a time of family, friends, joy, and freedom. By no means should you feel restricted in solely making healthy choices, so make sure you still indulge in the every-so-often sweet treat. But, if you are or have been looking for more sustainable yet tasty treats try some of these recipes!
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