Just when you feel a sugar craving coming on after dinner, think twice about that dish of ice cream. Finish off a great meal with one of these low-sugar orange cream treats. They’re cool, refreshing and just sweet enough to quench a sugar craving.

Preparation time: 4 hours (mostly freezing time)
Yield: 8 servings

1 can (16 ounces) mandarin oranges in light
syrup, undrained
8 ounces vanilla lowfat yogurt
2 tablespoons Splenda
8 frozen pop molds
8 wooden Popsicle-type sticks

Step 1
Place the oranges and yogurt in a blender and add the Splenda. Blend to desired consistency, approximately 2 minutes.

Step 2
Pour the mixture into a measuring cup with a spout. Pour the mixture into freezer molds. Freeze until firm . overnight is best.

Per serving: Kcalories 60 (From Fat 4); Fat 0g (Saturated 0g); Cholesterol 1mg; Sodium 22mg; Carbohydrate 14g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 2g.
Exchanges: 1.2 fruit, 1.2 milk

Whole Grain GORP

Good Old Raisins and Peanuts (known by generations of kids and hikers as GORP) gets an update with delicious whole-grain cereal choices and readily available dried fruits.

Use golden raisins, diced dried apricots, or any other fruit that appeals to you. It’s a great anytime snack to keep ready and waiting in resealable plastic bags in your pantry.

GORP makes for a mighty healthy treat too, as long as portions are well controlled. A good source of protein and fiber makes GORP a good glucose-controlling snack.

Dried fruit is a great way to get in your fruit servings, but it’s still a concentrated form of sugar and if eaten excessively can send blood sugars to the moon.

Nuts are an excellent source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, but still a quarter cup packs about 200 kcalories. Enjoy this tasty treat (courtesy of food writer Heather Dismore) and its nutritional benefits, in moderation, as always.

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

2 cups bite-sized honey nut wheat shredded wheat
1.2 cup toasted unsalted almonds
1.2 cup dried cranberries

1 Combine all ingredients in a resealable plastic bag. Shake to mix thoroughly.
2 Store in your pantry for up to one week.

Per serving: Kcalories 165 (From Fat 54); Fat 6g (Saturated 1g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 24mg; Carbohydrate 22g (Dietary Fiber 3g); Protein, 4g.
Exchanges: 1.2 starch, 1.2 fruit, 1 fat