Low Carb Desserts for the Holidays

Choosing the right kind of carbs to ensure that we have a healthy diet can be hard, especially when trying to satisfy your sweet tooth during the holidays. Complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, provide enough fiber to keep you full longer and prevent blood sugar spikes. These types of carbs help make up a balanced diet.However, simple carbohydrates--like white bread, rice, potatoes, and sugar-- provide a quick energy burst that disappears and leads to a blood sugar spike and crash. Holiday desserts can be tempting, so check out these low carb desserts that help you stay on track and prevent you from gaining weight this holiday season:

Zero Carb Cheesecake

This cheesecake is a great choice for people on a low carb diet, as it is made up of mostly cheese and eggs, with no crust!Combine in a bowl: Five 8 oz packages of light cream cheese, 4 eggs, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and ¾ cup Splenda.Mix everything together until smooth, and then bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit in a greased pie plate for one hour.Allow it to cool for 2-3 hours to set and hold its shape.

No Carb Pudding

Another very simple and easy dessert that is easy on your hips:In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and your favorite artificial sweetener (like Splenda or stevia) to taste.Beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.

No Carb Peanut Butter Cookies

Not your normal peanut butter cookie, but can satisfy a craving during this holiday season. Note they do crumble easily, so be sure to let them cool before removing them from the cookie sheet.Mix 1 cup of natural peanut butter (or your choice), 1 large egg, ½ cup Splenda (add or subtract to taste), and a dash of vanilla.Roll into 12 balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Press down with a fork in the familiar pattern.Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or until they have stiffened up (they will be firm to the touch).  Remember to allow them to cool, then take them off and enjoy!

Three Minute Low Carb Individual Chocolate Cake

Chocolate lovers will love this easy recipe that has only 10 grams of net carbs per serving.In a large glass measuring cup, mix together ¼ cup almond flour, 1 tablespoon cocoa, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, 3 tablespoons Splenda, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon water, and 1 egg.Cover the measuring cup with plastic wrap, cut a small slit in it, and microwave on high for 1-2minutes or until the cake looks set but still moist.Your best option is to avoid foods that are loaded with carbs and low in calories; what would be better is if it had protein to give you a feeling of fullness while satisfying your sweet tooth. One option we have at ThinWorks are these great low carb, high protein bars . They are a great meal replacement, as they contain 160 protein calories and they are all around 5-8 net carbs per bar.The pre-made chocolate or vanilla smoothies are only 2 and 1 carbs, respectively and have 100 calories and 15 grams of protein. These make delicious coffee creamers (for a vanilla or mocha flavor), or can be poured into a container and frozen for an ice cream/malt kind of treat!Just looking for a nibble of chocolate? Try these low carb flavored healthy chocolates.