Most people assume that if it tastes good, it cannot be very healthy, and this is true in a lot of cases, especially where desserts are concerned. For that reason, many plus size men and women skip the desserts, thinking that this is the only way to support a healthy diet. However, there are a few dessert recipes that will make your mouth water without adding extra pounds, and here are just a few examples:

Peanut Butter Pie

Blend8 ouncesof cream cheese (should be thawed to room temperature) with one cup of peanut butter (use no- or low-sugar brands) until the mixture is very smooth. Then, separately, beat one and a half cups of heavy whipping cream with about a quarter cup of Splenda (use the baking sugar). If the mixture does not taste sweet at all, add up to another quarter cup to taste. Fold the Splenda mixture into the peanut butter mixture a scoop at a time, until all of the Splenda mixture is added to the bowl. Dump the contents of the entire bowl into your piecrust (graham cracker crust is suitable, and will taste great). Finally, chill in the refrigerator for about four hours, until the pie is hardened enough to solidify.

Fruit Parfait

Create layers of fruit (most people choose blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, and similar fruits) and yogurt (can use vanilla or flavored), using at least two different fruits. About two cups of yogurt can be used for four parfait servings. High in vitamins and protein, low in fat and calories, so a great choice for many diets.

Blueberry Cheesecake

Preheat the oven to about 375 degrees. Start by mixing two 8-oz packages of cream cheese with a half-cup of sugar, half teaspoon of vanilla, and two egg whites. Then, spread the mixture into a graham cracker piecrust. Add about two-thirds of a cup of blueberry pie filling, and use a knife to create a swirl pattern by pressing through both layers in different places. Needs to bake for about forty minutes, until light golden brown on top. Can serve chilled or hot. High protein dessert, relatively low-cal!

Fruit Sorbet

Take your favorite frozen fruit, defrosted just a little bit, and blend with about one teaspoon of juice. Blends like orange juice and blackberry, pineapple and strawberry, and orange with strawberry taste great. Add two teaspoons of water, and mix until the ingredients are very smooth. Almost no calories, fat, or sodium. No cholesterol, good source of protein.

Chocolate Mousse

Beat one package of sugar-free chocolate pudding with two cups of skim milk. Fold two cups of light Cool Whip, half-teaspoon of vanilla, and about a quarter-teaspoon of cinnamon (optional). Mix the ingredients until they are blended well. Divide the mixture into servings, and then cover each serving with plastic wrap and chill. Keep in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat. Low calories, little fat, great tasting chocolate dessert.

These are just a few of the many dishes that taste great without all of the fat and calories that most people believe have to be in a great tasting dessert. You can mix and match ingredients to suit your individual taste, and experimenting allows you to find healthy desserts without racking up the calories or pounds. These are recipes that you can feel good about eating, even if you want to have a dessert every day. Once you have hit on the ones that taste best, do not forget to share the recipe with friends and family members so that everyone can enjoy fewer calories and fat without sacrificing taste.

It may sound like a cliché, but there actually are many different diets that work for plus size women. Some are more expensive than others, and a few are hard to stick to, to say the least, but most work as long as you follow the regime without fail. Almost every one of these diets requires hard work, and regular exercise, but some are more effective than others where healthy eating is concerned. Here are a few popular examples, in no particular order.

The ever-popular Atkins diet is one of the best ways to shed a few pounds fast. In fact, it is very common for a plus size woman to lose up to15 pounds in just two weeks by sticking to this diet religiously. However, it is not for everyone, and you should definitely consult your doctor before starting any diet.

Common dinner idea on Atkins: a small portion of meat, cheese, steamed vegetables, and water. No go on the dessert, since not even fresh fruit is allowed during the first two weeks. The point of the Atkins is to shock your body into ketosis, where the metabolism is jump-started and your body can burn fat and calories like it was in overdrive. Atkins-friendly meals are somewhat cheaper than other diets, but the almost all-meat diet can get tiresome very fast.

We’ve all seen the Weight Watchers commercials on television and in Internet advertisements. If you can afford all of the bells and whistles that go along with the diet, it is a great opportunity to lose weight over an extended period of time, which is the healthiest ways to drop the pounds and keep them off. Be prepared to pay for special meals, sign-up costs, meeting fees, and more.

Weight Watchers is all about the points. You will be counting points in your sleep after a few months on the diet, but experts (those who have done it for years) say that it gets so easy that you no longer need your handy-dandy notebook to write everything down. That is a plus, but could be a real hassle for the plus size woman who works outside of home.

One of the newest additions to the diet family, Sugar Busters is one of the easiest diets to tackle, with the fewest restrictions and the best net loss. Although it takes longer to drop the weight, it will stay off longer, and you will have less trouble maintaining that healthy weight, with the help that the diet offers. It can also help you learn to eat healthy, and can be a great way to introduce your family to healthier eating habits, too.

The goal of Sugar Busters is to eliminate as much sugar as possible. This can come in the form of refined flours, glucose, sucrose, pectin, white rice, and potatoes. Get rid of these, add a healthy alternative such as whole grain bread or brown rice, and you are on the right track to healthy eating habits. If you get a sweet tooth, choose sugar free cookies, ice cream made with Splenda, or fresh/frozen fruit smoothies.

Sometimes, it’s not about what you eat, but about what you quit eating. For that reason, simply getting rid of the worst foods a little at a time, such as sodas or sugars, can lead to a decent amount of weight loss in a relatively short amount of time. Keep up the hard work, add a healthy amount of exercise, and you will see the pounds begin to melt in no time. Stick to the diet, even when you are feeling emotional or depressed, and you will not regret it.

If you are obese or slightly overweight you mos likely have tried all types of diet. Starving yourself to shed some pounds just isn’t the way to go, nor is abruptly decreasing your food intake a good practice for your body. Take it easy and go light with a healthy diet; start by consuming foods that are heavy enough to last you throughout your activities and light enough to decrease the number on your scale.

For a change, try these easy-to-cook healthy recipes that go light on you but heavy on the important nutrients that you need:

Healthy Red Ragu Pasta

Ingredients:

-         Extra virgin olive oil

-         1 Big can of stewed tomatoes

-         1Whole garlic, minced

-         1 Medium-sized onion, minced

-         1 Whole bell pepper, sliced into strips

-         ½ Cup chicken broth

-         5 Leaves, fresh basil

-         1 Pack of Linguini Pasta noodles

-         Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

Sauté garlic and onions until slightly cooked add bell peppers and stewed tomatoes. Stir for 2 minutes and add in chicken broth, then stir for another 2 minutes. Mix in fresh basil and stir. Leave to stew in low heat for about an hour. Stir around occasionally. Pour over pasta to serve.

*This meal is filled with tomatoes that are rich in lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. Eat a serving and you will feel recharged for the whole day ahead.

As meals do not go quite complete without a sumptuous dessert, you could also try this refreshing tropical treat:

Frozen Pineapple-Peach Yogurt 

Ingredients:

-         1 Cup orange juice

-         1 ½ Tbsp sugar

-         1 Cup water

-         1 Tbsp powdered unflavored gelatin

-         1 Cup crushed pineapple

-         ½ Can sliced peaches

-         1 Cup plain low-fat yogurt

Procedure:

1. Combine the orange juice and sugar and boil until dissolved. While waiting, pour water in a small cup with the gelatine and wait for it to soften. When the juice is done boiling, stir in the gelatine until dissolved and set aside to cool.
2. Mix the pineapples and yogurt in a blender and puree. Pour in the orange juice while the motor runs and let to blend for a few seconds. Pour the yogurt into a bowl and store in a freezer. When ice crystals form, mix several times with a fork.
3. Serve the frozen yogurt from the freezer half hour before serving and mix again with a fork. Place in individual bowls and mix in peaches.

*Pineapple is a rich source of phytochemicals and vitamin C while peaches are also a good source of fiber and antioxidants.               

Going on a healthy diet is not an easy task; it requires a lot of determination and self-control for you to be able to finally get rid of your plus size clothing. Don’t push yourself too hard on diets that you can’t commit to as it can only leave you frustrated when they fail and you may end up with episodes of ‘emotional eating or bingeing.’ Go light on yourself, eat light and see yourself get light.