Orange Cream Pops

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

Tags: Blood Sugars, Dietary Fiber, Dried Apricots, Food Writer, Freezing Time, Frozen Pop Molds, Good Source Of Protein, Heather Dismore, Kcalories, Light Syrup, Mandarin Oranges, Monounsaturated Fats, Orange Cream, Protein 2g, Quarter Cup, Resealable Plastic Bags, Shredded Wheat, Snack Recipes, Splenda, Sugar Craving, Whole Grain Cereal