Cake is an important part of many special occasions. It’s served at birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, housewarming parties, and retirement celebrations. However, not all cakes are created equally in terms of their calorie content and nutritional value.
If you’re committed to healthy eating, you don’t need to eliminate cake from your diet. Instead, try to focus on choosing those that will help you increase your fruit and vegetable intake. Cakes made with dried fruit or apples, bananas, carrots, or pumpkin can be delicious treats for someone following a well-balanced diet. If these choices don’t sound appetizing enough, consider angel food or sponge cake. However, chocolate fudge cakes and other ultra-rich desserts should be saved for special occasions only.
If you want to adapt your favorite recipe to make it more nutritious, try replacing some of the sugar or fat in the cake with a fruit puree made from apples or apricots stewed in a small amount of water. Depending upon your personal preferences and the type of cake you’re trying to bake, fruit juice, flavored yogurt, or nonfat sour cream can also be used to cut calories without sacrificing taste. Many cooks choose to use artificial sweetener in place of granulated white sugar, but some medical experts are concerned that the health effects of these products have not been sufficiently tested.
The type of ingredients in a cake will also play an important role in determining whether or not the it is bad for your health. A cake made using organic sugar, whole wheat flour, free-range eggs, and a reduced fat olive oil-based spread can be both delicious and nutritious. These ingredients may cost slightly more than what you’re used to paying, but they are better for you than baking a cake that contains refined white flour, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and other unhealthy food additives. Make frequent use of natural vanilla, cocoa, and cinnamon to boost your cake’s flavor without adding unnecessary calories. For a finishing touch that won’t ruin your diet, top it with powdered sugar or try a tangy cream cheese icing,
Regardless of the type you choose, portion control is an essential part of healthy eating. To avoid the risk of overindulgence, consider cutting your cake into several small squares or buying a set of mini-cake pans. Eat slowly, take small bites, and savor the results of your hard work.