One of the first things someone getting into fitness or cleaning up their diet might think they need to do is “give up” dessert, especially if they’re newly committing to an intense workout schedule, starting to strictly set up a meal plan and/or if they’ve dropped the dollars to hire a personal trainer.

Check that assumption!

Dessert doesn’t have to be skipped – even for the strictest macro-counting gym fanatics. Fitness couldn’t be a lifestyle if there weren’t products and solutions out there to help people bridge the gap between goal-oriented food as fuel and hedonistic indulgence of the foods and flavors we have available at our fingertips. A few of our favorite, macro-friendly products are:

Halo Top : for the ice cream lover

Halo Top turned the ice cream aisle on its head. So many of the health conscious had given up on ice cream until they graced the world with their unique portfolio. They market their Ice Cream for Adults at 280-380 calories per pint. Recently, they dropped dairy free flavors as well as pops. My favorite flavors are caramel macchiato and sea salt caramel, and I’ve been a big fan for a long time. Peep this photo from 2015 when I was way stoked for their new flavor drop which included oatmeal cookie… yes, yes.

Quest Bar : for the strictest calorie counter

When you’re being super strict into counting macros or sticking to a very strict dietary protocol, Quest Bar comes through in the clutch. They are one of the only bars with a pretty clean ingredient deck that’s paired with lower sugar and net carbs. A handful of their flavors have some great inclusions that provide a lot more taste and texture that can really help you feel like you’re fully indulging. My favorite flavors are cookies and creme and blueberry muffin.

PS – a big hack (if the flavor is relevant, like the Blueberry Muffin) is to throw them in the microwave for a few seconds. 

Honeycut (ofc!) : for the cake lover

Our snack cakes are a good pre- or post-workout. At ~200 calories per pack, they won’t weigh you down. Our macros are balanced between healthy fats, healthy carbs (powered partly by natural sugars like organic honey and organic maple syrup) and whey protein. If your favorite type of dessert is cake, brownies, cookies, cupcakes or muffins, these are the protein-rich, healthified snacks that will come to your rescue.

Protein oats with fruit and nut butter : for the naturalist

Upgrading your protein shake with some bulk via oats (or as some call them, #proats) can help you feel fuller and more satisfied with this healthy alternative. If you can top with your favorite fruit and/or nut butter, you up the decadence of this overall very healthy dessert swap. Fun protein powder flavors are probably the easiest thing to find these days; some of my favorite unique flavors are 1UP Nutrition's Banana Caramel Twist or Cinnamon French Toast

(see Spinach for Breakfast blog for this beautiful recipe)

Greek Yogurt, with nut butter and fresh berries : for the lover of sweet and sour pairings. Or for someone really watching their sugar intake.

Plain Greek yogurt is a great source of protein, and can really be jazzed up with the toppings you choose. My favorite combination is blackberries and peanut butter. If you want to add honey, agave or chocolate chips to up the sweetness, it’s a full-blown dessert experience. If you’re watching sugar intake, this can be one of the best dessert alternatives, but make sure that you’re not using a flavored Greek yogurt or one that already has added sugar.

(Thanks to Platings and Pairings blog for this beauty) 

Cloud 10 Rice Krispy : for the kid in all of us. Or for those that need something quick and on-the-go.

These guys aren’t as high protein as some of the other options, but with 15 grams of protein per bar, they aren’t slacking either. These bars are super versatile to take with you in a gym bag or on-the-go, and their birthday cake flavor (my favorite) comes with sprinkles.