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Desserts
 If you think making room for dessert means loosening your belt to the next notch, think again. Follow a few basic principles and you can indulge without the bulge.
- Make healthful trade-offs. Watch your fat intake over the course of a day by balancing the higher-fat food you eat with lower-fat choices. For example, if you top off lunch with your favorite monster-size cookie, forgo a high-fat afternoon snack and plan a sensible, lower-fat dinner.
- Plan ahead. If you're headed to a birthday party in the evening, save room for cake and punch by eating a lighter lunch. Rather than overdo it at the buffet, snack on a dinner roll or apple before you go. If you're addicted to an afternoon snack, make it work harder by packing healthy selections such as carrot sticks, grapes, bagels or pretzels.
- Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. To make room for treats, burn extra calories. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend at last 30 minutes of physical activity a day, whether it's vacuuming, heavy cleaning, walking, jogging or mowing the lawn. Simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator can be a benefit.
- Treat yourself right. Self indulgence is good for the soul. Today, take time for yourself and the things you love.
- Modify your favorite recipe to cut down on fat. Try substituting 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce or pureed prunes instead of 1/2 cup oil; replace cream cheese with low-fat or fat-free versions; use two egg whites instead of one whole egg.
Interested in learning more? Go to "Grains of Truth": Cakes, Cookies, Muffins Chocolate Almond Pudding Cake photo and recipe courtesy the Wheat Foods Council.
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