Are the new ‘healthy’ puds too good to be true?
Want to stay slim and healthy? Then eat more dessert! The only catch is that it will have to be one of the new, healthy puddings designed to appeal to those cutting back on sugar.
They’re not like the old diet puds, with little to recommend them but complex chemicals and a low calorie count. Instead, they’re packed with surprisingly healthy ingredients, from aubergine to spirulina and baobab to potato protein.
You can see why the idea appeals to dieters with a sweet tooth — but do they taste good and are they really that healthy for you?
With help from nutritionist Emma Brown, of food testing app nutracheck, we put the new, healthy puds to the test . . .
AUBERGINE AND SPIRULINA FONDANT
GATO & Co Velvety Chocolate Fondant, £2.25, sainsburys.co.uk (pictured below) Per 100g: 338 calories, 19g fat, 18g sugar
WHAT’S IN IT? Aubergine, dark chocolate, egg, honey and almonds.
EMMA SAYS: It’s great that almost a third of each pot is aubergine, while spirulina provides added benefits such as iron and B vitamins.
IS IT WORTH IT? Aubergine and spirulina did not sound tempting. But I was stunned by how tasty it was — really fudgy and chocolatey. A winner! 5/5
MOREISH MAPLE, DATES AND PINK SALT
Livia’s Kitchen Raw Millionaire Bites, £4.99, ocado.com Per 100g: 353 calories, 11g fat, 45.1g sugar WHAT’S IN IT? Oats, date paste, dark chocolate, maple syrup and Himalayan pink salt.
EMMA SAYS: This contains lots of whole foods and a good amount of a fibre. It’s still high in saturated fat, though, so it should be an occasional treat.
IS IT WORTH IT? If you like dates, this is a must-have. I wasn’t initially impressed with the taste, which has a strong hit of dates and not much caramel, but soon, I found them moreish. 4/5
BAOBAB TREE CHOCOLATE BAR
Doisy & Dam Lemon, Poppy Seed and Baobab Chocolate, £2.50 for 80g, doisyanddam.com Per 100g: 565 calories, 37.1g fat, 47.6g sugar
WHAT’S IN IT? White chocolate, lemon extract, poppy seeds and baobab.
EMMA SAYS: This contains almost all of the same ingredients as a normal bar of chocolate. But the poppy seeds, lemon and baobab add fibre.
IS IT WORTH IT? It’s just a chocolate bar with some added extras, but it tastes great. I’m not sure I’ve tasted baobab before but, apparently, it’s good for your immune system. The downside? Poppy seeds in your teeth! 2½/5
PERFECT PUD FOR SERIOUS SLIMMERS
Pudology Skinny Chocolate & Raspberry Pud, £2.99 for two 50g pots, ocado.com Per 100g: 106 calories, 3.6g fat, 13g sugar
WHAT’S IN IT? Coconut water and coconut cream, potato protein, dark chocolate and a raspberry compote with 44 per cent raspberries.
EMMA SAYS: These are high in fat but, as they don’t contain many ingredients, they’re free from lots of additives.
IS IT WORTH IT? A tiny 53- calorie treat. It tastes earthy, but the texture’s not bad. The compote tastes artificial. A good option if you’re calorie-counting but need something sweet. 3½/5
DELICIOUS RAW ORGANIC TRUFFLES
Raw Health Organic Blissed Chocada Truffles, £2.49, hollandandbarrett. com. Per 100g: 357 calories, 17g fat, 44g sugar WHAT’S IN IT? Dates, cacao and agave syrup. EMMA SAYS: These are very high in fat and sugar, but would still be better than chocolate because of the natural ingredients. IS IT WORTH IT? I found these far too rich and very bitter. The texture was leathery and I struggled to get the excess off my teeth. It’s a shame, as they come in a little pack of three, so would pop easily into your bag. 1/5
SAINTLY SALTED CARAMEL ICE CREAM
Halo Top Low Calorie Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream, £5, ocado.com (pictured left). Per 100ml: 68 calories, 2g fat, 6.2g sugar WHAT’S IN IT? Milk , cream, dietary fibre and flavourings. EMMA SAYS: This is really low in fat and sugar and it’s high in protein. It contains sweetener and sugar, but in small amounts. A good choice for a treat. IS IT WORTH IT? You would never guess this is low calorie. Salted caramel is a favourite of mine and this is just right — creamy, sweet and rich. 5/5
CACAO AND CASHEW BROWNIE BITES
Bare Bites Raw Brownie Squares, £6 for 150g pack of five servings, yumbles.com. Per 100g: 506 calories, 30g fat, 13g sugar
WHAT’S IN IT? Cashews, dates, oats, cacao, coconut oil and trendy pink Himalayan salt.
EMMA SAYS: The coconut oil pushes up the saturated fat, but it’s a balanced pud, with healthier fats from the cashew nuts. It’s a good choice as an occasional sweet treat.
IS IT WORTH IT? These are a disappointment. There’s a strange, salty overtone and the chewy date flavour can’t make up for it. The cashews are nice, but the brownies are dry. 2/5