As summer rolls around, everyone starts to care more about getting fit and healthy right in time for heading to the beach. If you think your favorite desserts should be the first items to be dropped from your diet – well, reconsider. By making smart choices, you don’t have to skip the sweet stuff entirely. Take your cues from MAYA with these great tips.

DIY desserts. Preparing your own treats is a good option since you can control both ingredients and portions. Serve your desserts in small containers to help manage your sugar intake during meals.

Go for whole wheat. Instead of regular refined flour, go for whole wheat! MAYA’s ThinkHeart line, for one, is a healthier alternative that still satisfies your cravings. The MAYA Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Mix and Whole Wheat Pancake Mix are quick, easy and delicious desserts packed with dietary fiber from whole wheat to keep you fit and help lower your risk of heart disease.

Less processed the better. MAYA Whole Wheat Pancake Mix uses muscovado sugar, which is considered the purest form of sugar since it’s filled with essential nutritional compounds like calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, proteins, and antioxidants that are often filtered out in the process of making white sugar. If you want something sweet while trying to stay in shape, MAYA’s Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Mix contains zero-gram trans-fat, iron, and no cholesterol.

Learn new guilt-free recipes. Try out different recipes from MAYA’s new Guilt-Free Desserts cookbook, which consists of 30 delicious recipes using healthier alternatives with the same satisfying sweet taste. From substituting fruits for frosting, to adding nuts to your pancakes for extra fiber, this handy guide offers many ways to enjoy your traditional treats without feeling guilty.

Making healthy desserts may seem fancy and intimidating, but thanks to MAYA, it’s now pretty easy to whip up delectable and guilt-free treats in your own kitchen to stay fit and ready for the season.

For more information on this and on other course offerings, log on to www.themayakitchen.com, e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City. You may also call us 8921185 or 892-5011 local 108 or +63929 679 6102.

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Stay hungry,

thehungrychef

Nathaniel C. Uy