I’m going to tell you a little secret about me. Yes, I love super-healthy foods like kale and avocados. But I also love ooey, gooey desserts! Even though the Sugar Demon no longer has a grip on me, I still like to indulge in the occasional sweet treat. Luckily, I can satisfy my sweet tooth without feeling guilty at all. That’s because I’ve discovered how to make desserts that are ooey, gooey and healthy. Here’s the trick: Don’t sacrifice… swap!

Today, I’m sharing five of my favorite “swaps” for making desserts that taste sinful but aren’t. Here they are.

Swap dairy whipped cream for coconut whipped cream. Everything’s better with whipped cream, right? And when you make your whipped cream from coconut milk, it’s yummy and healthy. Here’s how to do it.

1. Refrigerate a can of coconut milk for at least 3 hours (overnight is best). 2. When it’s time to make your whipped cream, place the can, a metal mixing bowl, and the beaters from a mixer in the freezer for 15 minutes. 3. Pour the coconut milk into the chilled mixing bowl and add one teaspoon of almond or vanilla extract. Whip on the mixer’s highest setting until the milk is fluffy and resembles the texture of whipped cream, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Swap grain flours for non-grain flours. If you’re new to non-grain flours, you have a treat in store! These flours are so versatile that you can use them to create just about any dessert you can imagine. Here’s a Huffington Post article I wrote a while back on how to bake with them.

Swap sugar for healthy sweeteners. You don’t want to over-indulge in even the healthiest of sweeteners… but it’s fine to treat yourself occasionally! Look for recipes that use honey, maple syrup, blackstrap molasses, coconut sugar, or stevia. All of these sweeteners, in addition to tasting delicious, pack some nutritional power. Also, look for recipes sweetened with applesauce, bananas, figs, and other fruits.

Swap “junk” chocolate for good chocolate. Is there anything chocolate can’t do? It can lower your blood pressure, increase blood flow to your brain, improve insulin sensitivity, and even make your teeth stronger! The key, however, is to choose the right chocolate. Look for chocolate that’s free of soy, dairy, and other unhealthy additives. (My favorite brand is Enjoy Life.) And the darker the chocolate, the better, so look for a cocoa percentage of at least 70%.

Swap peanut butter for almond butter. Peanuts aren’t really nuts—they’re legumes—and they aren’t really good for you, either. For instance, they’re often contaminated with aflatoxin, one of the worst carcinogens on the planet. Almonds are much, much better for you, and you can substitute almond butter for peanut butter in just about any dessert recipe.

— As you can see, eating a healthy diet doesn’t mean kissing desserts goodbye. Instead, it means opting for smart desserts that are every bit as delicious. Remember my mantra: Don’t sacrifice… swap! You’ll find loads of fabulous desserts that feature my healthy swaps right here on my website (like the Chocolate Almond Dip pictured above)—everything from cool, light puddings (perfect for that coconut whipped cream), to brownies and chocolate chip cookies, to soufflés and tortes that are elegant enough for dinner parties. Just limit these desserts to occasional delights rather than every-day indulgences, and you’ll be able to enjoy them without even a touch of guilt—and without ever gaining an ounce.

Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!

P.S. Protein shakes are always a great, quick, guilt-free dessert and our Bone Broth Protein Isolate in Chocolate or Vanilla is the perfect grass-fed protein powder.