These tofu dessert recipes and information were featured in FIRST for Women Magazine, July 13, 2009 issue. When my 11 year-old daughter saw these recipes she was so delighted—she loves healthy desserts. We haven’t made any  of these recipes yet. Hope we can try these tofu dessert recipes very soon.

If you want to lose weight here’s the magazine excerpts on tofu:
Because mild-tasting tofu takes on the flavor of the ingredients it’s paired with, so all you’ll taste is rich, velvety goodness — with 85%  fewer calories and an amazing 92% less fat than heavy cream. The 9 grams of soy protein that tofu packs per serving — makes even more impressive!

Like all protein, soy protein triggers the release of the appetite-satisfying hormones glucagon and cholecystokinin. It also contains peptides that activate lipolysis (the burning of fat for energy), which researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign say can jump-start weight loss in as little as 3 days. Soy’s branched-chain amino acids stimulate metabolism-boosting mitochondria to shrink fat cells, resulting in a 36% decrease in body fat in just eight weeks. So these creamy summer sweets won’t make you gain.

Tofu is a staple of Asian diets for centuries. Tofu is made by coagulating naturally low-fat soymilk, then pressing the resulting curds into blocks. For making desserts choose silken tofu (like Mori-Nu) for maximum creaminess. Its custard-like texture blends smoothly into dessert recipes.

Silken Tofu: Silky Chocolate Mousse

In small microwave-safe bowl, microwave for 20 second:
1 bar (4 oz.) bittersweet chocolate, like Ghirardelli, melted;
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, like Hershey’s;
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
Stir until smooth.

In food processor or blender, puree:
1 box (12.3 oz.) silken tofu, like Mori-Nu, 1 minute or until smooth.
Add chocolate mixture.
Puree 1 minute, scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula.

Transfer tofu-chocolate mixture to large bowl; fold in:
1 1/2 cups frozen fat-free whipped topping, like Cool Whip, thawed.

Chill 1 hour.
Spoon or pipe mousse into serving dishes.

Makes 4 servings

Tofu Dessert: Caramel-Banana Tartlets

Heat oven to 350°F.

In bowl, combine:
25 chocolate wafers, like Nabisco Famous, ground;
3 Tbs. vegetable spread, like Country Crock
2 Tbs. sugar
Press into 4″ tart pans
Bake 9 minutes, let cool.

In skillet, cook in 3 minutes, stirring occasionally:
2 bananas, sliced; and
Caramel topping mixture:
1/4 cup caramel topping
2 Tbs. rum
1 Tbs. vegetable spread

In food processor, puree in 1 minute:
1 box (12.3 oz.) silken tofu

In bowl, combine:
1 box (1 oz.) sugar-free, fat-free instant vanilla pudding mix
1/4 cup fat-free half-and-half
and pureed tofu

Alternate banana and tofu mixtures evenly among crusts.
Chill 2 hours.

Divide:
1 container (8 oz.) fat-free whipped topping among tarts.

Makes 8 servings

Yummy Silken Tofu Dessert: Almond-Kiss Cheesecakes

Heat oven to 325°F.

In small bowl, combine until blended:
1 cup finely ground amaretti cookie crumbs, like Lazzaroni (about 30 small cookies)
3 Tbs. vegetable spread like Country Crock, melted
Divide crumb mixture evenly among wells of greased 12-well muffin pan;
Press into bottom of wells.

In food processor, puree:
1 box (12.3 oz.) silken tofu, like Mori-Nu, 1 minute;
Add, and puree 1 minute:
6 oz. Neufchatel cream cheese, at room temperature;
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. grated orange zest.

Divide batter among crusts.

Bake 25 minutes.
Let cool slightly.
Carefully run knife around edge of each cheesecake.
Chill in pan 1 hour. Remove from pan.

Makes 12 servings.

Source: FIRST for Women Magazine, July 13, 2009, pp. 62 ,  63.

Other Healthy Desserts “to lose weight”:

• 10 Flat Belly Diet Smoothies Recipes

Quick and easy to prepare, these smoothie recipes not only contain a variety of refreshing fruits, they pack MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids) — the Flat Belly Diet powerhouse ingredient that specifically targets belly fat. These filling, creamy thirst-quenchers are perfect for breakfast or a Flat Belly snack.

Happy sipping!

Mango Surprise

Avocado lends this refreshing drink a silky smoothness. From the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook.

SERVINGS: 1

• ¼ cup mango cubes
• ¼ cup mashed ripe avocado (MUFA)
• ½ cup mango juice
• ¼ cup fat-free vanilla yogurt
• 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 6 ice cubes

Combine the mango, avocado, mango juice, yogurt, lime juice, sugar, and ice cubes in a blender. Process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass. Garnish with sliced mango or strawberry, if desired, and serve.

Nutritional Info Per Serving

268 calories, 5 g protein, 53 g carbohydrates, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 1 mg cholesterol, 84 mg sodium, 4 g fiber

Blueberry Bliss Smoothie

A berry-licious breakfast or snack, perfect for the Flat Belly Diet jumpstart

SERVINGS: 1

• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 cup frozen unsweetened blueberries
• 1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA)

Place milk and frozen unsweetened blueberries in blender and blend for 1 minute. Transfer to glass, and stir in flaxseed oil.

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

Natural peanut butter lends texture to this hearty breakfast drink from the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook

SERVINGS: 1

• ½ cup fat-free milk
• ½ cup fat-free plain yogurt
• 2 Tbsp creamy natural unsalted peanut butter (MUFA)
• ¼ very ripe banana
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 4 ice cubes

Combine the milk, yogurt, peanut butter, banana, honey, and ice cubes in a blender. Process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and serve.

Nutritional Info Per Serving

410 calories, 19 g protein, 50 g carbohydrates, 16 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 289 mg sodium, 3 g fiber

Vanilla Yogurt and Blueberry Smoothie

A berry sweet and satisfying Flat Belly Diet snack

SERVINGS: 1

• 1 cup skim or soy milk
• 6 oz (80-calorie) vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 Tbsp flaxseed oil (MUFA)
• Handful of ice OR 1 cup frozen blueberries

Combine milk, yogurt, and fresh blueberries plus ice OR frozen blueberries in a blender. Blend for 1 minute, transfer to a glass, and stir in flaxseed oil.

Nutritional Info Per Serving

360 calories

Chocolate Delight Smoothie

Curb sweet cravings with this perfect MUFA-rich, Flat Belly Diet snack

SERVINGS: 1

• ½ cup skim or soy milk
• 6 oz (80-calorie) vanilla yogurt
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (MUFA)
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• Handful of ice OR 1 cup frozen raspberries

Combine milk, yogurt, chocolate chips, and fresh raspberries plus ice OR frozen raspberries in a blender. Blend for 1 minute, transfer to a glass, and eat with a spoon.

Nutritional Info Per Serving

387 calories

Sweet Peach Smoothie

A smoothie makes a delicious snack on the Flat Belly Diet jumpstart

SERVINGS: 1

• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 cup frozen unsweetened peaches
• 2 tsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA)

Place milk and frozen, unsweetened peaches in blender and blend for 1 minute. Transfer to glass, and stir in flaxseed oil.

Citrus Infusion Smoothie

Lemon and orange blend for a tropical Flat Belly Diet drink

SERVINGS: 1

• 1 cup skim or soy milk
• 6oz (80-calorie) lemon yogurt
• 1 medium orange peeled, cleaned, and sliced into sections
• 1 Tbsp flaxseed oil (MUFA)
• Handful of ice

Combine milk, yogurt, orange, and ice in a blender. Blend for 1 minute, transfer to a glass, and stir in flaxseed oil.

Nutritional Info Per Serving

370 calories

Apple-a-Day Smoothie

Try this taste-bud pleasing drink from the Flat Belly Diet

SERVINGS: 1

• 1/2 cup skim or soy milk
• 6oz (80-calorie) vanilla yogurt
• 1 tsp apple pie spice
• 1 medium apple peeled and chopped
• 2 Tbsp cashew butter (MUFA)
• Handful of ice

Combine milk, yogurt, apple pie spice, apple, cashew butter, and ice in blender. Blend for 1 minute, transfer to a glass, and eat with a spoon.

Nutritional Info Per Serving

388 calories

Pineapple Smoothie

A refreshing Flat Belly Diet jumpstart snack

SERVINGS: 1

• 1 cup skim milk
• 4 oz canned pineapple tidbits in juice
• 1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA)
• Handful of ice

Place milk, canned pineapple in blender, add of ice, and whip for 1 minute. Transfer to glass and stir in flaxseed oil.

Strawberry Smoothie

Kick off the Flat Belly Diet 4-day jumpstart with this refreshing drink

SERVINGS: 1

• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 cup frozen, unsweetened strawberries
• 2 tsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA)

Combine skim milk and frozen, unsweetened strawberries in blender. Blend, transfer to glass, and stir in flaxseed oil.

Source: Flat Belly Diet Smoothies Recipes that Shrink Your Middle