Whenever boxers, MMA and other combat sports fighters, start their training camps, they have to make a lot of sacrifices to their diet including giving up deserts. But, just because you are an athlete or a profession boxer, it doesn’t mean you have to exclude sweets from your diet. In fact you have to choose healthy ingredients that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth but also rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber to boost your energy and keep your body feeling and performing at its peak.
These are four healthy desserts that promise to support muscle recovery, reduce inflammation, increase endurance, and boost your immune system.
1. Chia Pudding
This recipe is free of everything that you have been told to avoid by your fitness coach. It is dairy free, has no gluten and contains a lot of protein.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of almonds
- 3 cups of water
- 1 cup almond milk
- 3 dates, cut in small pieces
- 2 ounces of Chia Seeds
- Sea salt, to taste
Direction
- Soak dates and almonds in the water. Sprinkle some sea salt
- Put them in the fridge for at least a day
- Take the mixture out and mix thoroughly in the blender
- Strain it in a glass and put chia seeds in the liquid
- Pour in almond milk and put this mixture in the fridge for about 4 hours
- Take it out and garnish with strawberries and blueberries, or any fruit of your choice, to serve
2. Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
Bananas are known to be the energy booster for athletes. In fact they are consumed by sportsmen across the globe to get instant energy. A combination of banana and chocolate is a match made in heaven for athletes. According to recent studies, consuming dark chocolate everyday help athletes and fitness enthusiasts train better.
Ingredients
- 4 medium bananas
- 3 teaspoons of cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder
- 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons toasted coconut flakes
Direction
- Cut bananas into small pieces and freeze them.
- Take them out of the freezer and blend them in a blender until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients to the bananas, except the coconut flakes.
- Blend until everything is mixed.
- Pour it into a container and put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle the coconut on top and serve.
3. Pears with Yogurt
Pear is known to be the healthiest fruit as its power packed with fiber and nutrients. Yogurt, on the other hand, is rich in protein and high in calcium to maintain bone density. Due to the natural sugar present in both foods, no sugar is needed for this mouthwatering dessert.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup of apple juice
- 1/2 cup of pomegranate juice
- 2 tsp. orange rind
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 pears, peeled and seeded
- 1 cup of yogurt
Direction
- Put apple juice, pomegranate juice, orange rind, and cinnamon stick in a pan and heat them until the liquid comes to boil
- Slice pears in half and add them to the mixture.
- Let them simmer for about 10-15 minutes
- Remove the pears after they are soft and cook the sauce until it thickens.
- Pour it over the pears and put them in the refrigerator
- Take them out after a few hours and put a scoop of yogurt on top before serving
4. Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal cookies as compared to normal cookies contain less fat and more protein, fiber, and calcium. They also help in weight loss, lower blood sugar levels and a reduced risk of heart disease.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of uncooked oats
- 2 medium bananas
- 1/4 cup crushed walnuts
Direction
- Preheat oven to 3500F
- Put a non-stick cookie sheet on a tray
- Mash the bananas in a bowl
- Mix mashed bananas, oats, and walnuts to the bananas
- Put scoops of the mixture on the tray and put it in the oven
- Bake for about 15 minutes and sprinkle some more walnuts if desired before serving
The perfect part about all of the dessert recipes above is that you only need a few minutes to make them. You can take a little time out from your boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing training regime and try one of the recipes above. They will not make a dent in your diet or calorie count but still give your sweet tooth what it wants.
