Giving in to the demands of your sweet tooth is an indulgence we all enjoy. As children and teenagers, we enjoy the sweetness and think no more about it. As young adults, we begin to consider the effects that these sweets have on our bodies. By the time we are in our 30s, eating anything sweet is tinged with a feeling of guilt about what the sugar and calories are doing to us and this guilt continues to grow as we become older. The effects of indulging your sweet tooth are a fact of life and we all adjust to the possible problems it may cause in our ways. While dessert alternatives like sugar-free sweets and low-fat ice creams are growing in popularity, they remain just that – choices. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for most of us, the thought that these healthier options are good but not quite the same as the original lingers at the back of our minds. And that, for many, robs these “healthier” choices of some of their flavor.

One type of dessert that suffers a lot because it is perceived to be full of sugar and loaded with calories is Middle Eastern pastries. They are sweet and full of sugar, honey, and spices and that means that they are full of calories. When compared to the healthy lean meats, vegetables, and unleavened bread that are the staples of the main course of meals, the guilt about indulging in Middle Eastern sweets increases. But that is only if you do not know the full story.

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Also Read: Turkish Appetizers Are Great with Any Meal | Turkish Baklava in San Mateo

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A Pleasure That Does Not Cause Guilt

A close look at Middle Eastern sweets and pastries reveals a reality that is quite different from the popular perception. These sweets are indeed created to satisfy the desire for sweetness in food. For that reason, they do not skimp on the sugar and other sweet ingredients – they do contain calories. However, what is often overlooked is that calories are not everything. The calorie count is just one factor in determining how healthy a food is. Many Middle Eastern pastries are rich in various types of nuts and spices which make them if not healthy, then certainly not unhealthy. The popular baklava, which is full of healthy nuts is a great example of a healthy Middle Eastern pastry. There are lots more including:

• Knafeh nabulsia is made with sweet white cheese, semolina, a simple syrup, and healthy pistachios.
• Namoura cake is made with semolina, yogurt, and syrup.
• Turkish kataifi is made with mixed nuts and filo dough.
• Turkish delight is made with honey, pistachios, and pomegranates.
• Awame sweets are made from simple, tasty, sweetened dough.
• Halva bars are made with almonds, other nuts, and chocolate.

These are sweet enough to satisfy the most ardent dessert lover but offer a healthy way to satisfy those sweet cravings.

If you are looking for healthy handcrafted Middle Eastern pastries, you should check out Aladdin Gourmet, a specialized Middle Eastern grocery and deli in San Mateo that caters to the needs of food lovers in the Bay Area. If you want to try making the pastries yourself, recipes are available online and Aladdin Gourmet has the ingredients you need. Or you could take the easy way out and pick up yummy desserts from the deli. Whichever way you go, this exclusive gourmet selection in San Mateo has lots to satisfy your healthy dessert cravings.

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