Healthy desserts to the rescue!

The Protein Bake Shop has delicious desserts that only have 10 grammes of carbs

A sweet tooth is meant to be satisfied, even if you're watching your weight. Dessert, after all, is one of life's many pleasures, but it doesn't always have to be a high-calorie indulgence either.
In Dubai, healthy desserts are not a myth anymore and you can gorge on truffles, cookies, and more at the Protein Bake Shop (PBS) without worrying about those hard to burn calories! The store goes against old nutrition myths of calories/low fat/sugar-free and whole wheat. Rashi Chowdhary, a Nutrition Expert, Diabetic Educator and Founder of PBS, believes in the healing power of high-fat foods and the amazing effect of nutrients from calories on our gut and hormones rather than going low on calories. The store uses natural sugar from dates, but most of its products have less than 10 grammes of carbs to avoid all the nasty effects of high sugar levels on our body. No artificial sweeteners or preservatives are used and the amount of ingredients used is minimal, so the body can better absorb the nutrients.
Chowdhary tells Khaleej Times: "I have the nicest job on the planet. Through all that I have learnt, I get to make people look and feel their very best. It's interesting to see how their perspective on life changes just by eating well and losing weight. They live better lives, have happier relationships, and to top it all, develop a better level self-confidence and belief in themselves. Considering my expertise as a diabetic educator, I have a clear understanding how our sugar levels respond to food. If a dessert is balanced in its macronutrient content, which means it is high in fat, low in carbs (under 10 grams) and has sufficient protein, then yes, healthy desserts exist. It's a very fulfilling experience to see Type 1 diabetic kids enjoy our products and not have issues with raging sugar levels."
She highlights that clients who come to her for weight loss often struggle with massive carb cravings. For them, saying no to cakes and chocolates is not an option because they are addicted to sugar. PBS is referred to as the UAE's first and only grain-free fitness bakery, which means that the store doesn't use any grains in its products. It avoids rice flour, potato starch, quinoa, brown rice syrup, etc., because, even though these ingredients sound healthy, they aren't, explains Chowdhary. 
"They will continue to raise your sugar level and have a negative effect on your hormones, which is why we do not use any grains at all. The base of our ingredients is almond flour and coconut flour, both of which are naturally enriched with vitamins and minerals, have very low carbs levels and a great fatty acid profile. We are the only one of our kind in the UAE and India that calculate our carbs, making sure it is under 10 grammes which is why our desserts can be enjoyed guilt-free by people who are looking to lose weight," she adds.
Some of their bestseller products that have a great nutritional profile include the Peanut Butter Truffles, which have only four grammes of carbs and eight grammes of protein, the Fitscuits, which are low carb biscuits enriched with whey protein isolate; and Rawnola, which is a grain-free paleo cereal made from crunchy nuts with only two tablespoons of honey in a batch tossed with coconut oil, crunchy seeds and coconut flakes. The products can be found in Choithrams, Zoom, All Days, West Zone and selected gyms such as Train SF and Vogue Fitness.
She says, "I have had many clients who have Peanut Butter Truffles or Fitscuits as their evening 5pm snack. They feel full and satisfied and have absolutely no cravings for refined sugar. Not only do they drop the weight because they stop consuming refined sugar, but also feel the pleasure of eating a dessert every single day."
PBS also has stores in India and is a big hit with Bollywood celebrities. Chowdhary shares, "Some of our regular clients include Kareena Kapoor Khan, who loves the Peanut Butter Truffles, while Tiger Shroff is a big fan of our almond butter. Shahid Kapoor loves the Fitscuits and Katrina Kaif often orders our No Dread Bread." 
Chowdhary's top tips to kick-start the weight loss process
Take responsibility: This is the first step people need to take if they are looking for a sustainable solution to weight loss. Most often we tend to blame situations in our life such as "being too busy at work", "being under too much stress", "having thyroid problems", etc., which tend to leave us in our comfort zone. Our brain loves keeping us safe and comes up with a million excuses to say no to discomfort. Losing weight involves challenges such as working out regularly, making the right food choices on a constant basis, etc., which can be hard. But we need to take responsibility for where we currently are at our fitness level and make a commitment to move forward. 
Start your day with a tablespoon of fat: Around 15 ml of coconut oil, ghee or butter first thing in the morning is one of the best things you can do to kick-start the fat loss process. This helps line your gut and prepare it for absorption of all the nutrients, stabilise insulin levels and help to curb sugar cravings. 
Eat according to your gut health: Not everyone needs to be gluten and dairy free. Understanding what works for your gut is key. If you feel bloated after you consume a particular food, you need to stop consuming it so your gut can heal. Our stomach is literally like our second brain, and a lot of key hormones are produced in our gut. Our gut health determines our sleep cycle, food cravings and a healthier gut even helps with an efficient fat metabolism. Therefore, eating what your gut responds well to is very important.  
Tips on how to increase vegetable intake
- Chop veggies finely, cook them in pasta sauce and then bake them with some vegan cheese for a low carb/slow carb dinner option. Adding some cashew cream on top along with some nutritional yeast can add a creamy effect without using cheese. 
- Snack on clean kale or vegetable chips. Just make sure the packet you buy does not have maltodextrin and hydrogenated oil on the ingredients list because they are not beneficial.
- Having noodles cooked in pesto sauce is a great way to increase your daily vegetable intake too. 
- Cauliflower rice with some vegetables or chicken Thai curry on the side can serve as a healthy vegetable rich low carb dinner option.
 -deepa@khaleejtimes.com 

• Food and Dining