These crispy sweet potato wedges come out Cajun spicy and sweet. They’re also really healthy. They’re loaded with antioxidants and phytonutrients and are a great source of beta-carotene.

Recipe: Baked Cajun Sweet Potato Fries

Swap regular fries for these delicious, and nutritious, potato wedges

These crispy sweet potato wedges come out Cajun spicy and sweet. Don’t tell anyone but they’re also really healthy. They’re loaded with antioxidants and phytonutrients and are a great source of beta-carotene. Another plus? As complex carbs, they digest slowly and raise blood sugars gradually — keeping you from a spike and drop-off.

Ingredients

2 sweet potatoes, cut into wedges (about 8 wedges per potato)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, oil and Cajun seasoning. Mix well to evenly coat wedges.
Spread the wedges in a single layer on one (or two, if needed) ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 30 minutes or until crispy and brown on one side.
Flip fries over and bake for another 30 minutes or until the wedges are crispy on the outside and tender inside.

Ingredient health benefits

Sweet potatoes: These root veggies are beloved the world over for their flavor and versatility. But did you know there’s more to sweet potatoes than … well, just being sweet? They’re also packed with essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin A and potassium. These nutrients help support many aspects of your overall health, including your immune system, metabolism, blood pressure and vision. Sweet potatoes also have carbohydrates and fiber to fuel your cells and promote healthy digestion.
Olive oil: This cooking oil is one of those ingredients that’s actually worth the hype. Olive oil is full of unsaturated fats and polyphenols. These compounds support your heart and fight inflammation that can harm your cells. Vitamin E and vitamin K, also known as fat-soluble vitamins, maintain radiant skin and strong bones. Olive oil also elevates your good “HDL” cholesterol while lowering your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. And powerful antioxidants suppress free radicals, damaging little particles that harm your cells in ways that can lead to cancer. While all olive oil has these benefits, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the highest quality, so don’t hesitate to pick some up if it fits within your budget!

Nutrition information (per serving)

Serving = 1 cup

Calories: 110
Total fat: 5g
Saturated fat: 0.5g
Trans fat: 0g
Protein: 2g
Carbohydrate: 16g
Dietary fiber: 3g
Sugar: 5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 57mg

August 29, 2025

Learn how to do a glute bridge for leg and butt strength from exercise physiologist Katie Lawton, MEd. @ClevelandClinic

Learn how to do a glute bridge for leg and butt strength from exercise physiologist Katie Lawton, MEd. pic.twitter.com/AZbMSdsjFZ
— Cleveland Clinic (@ClevelandClinic) July 29, 2025

August 26, 2025

Try our lighter carrot cake recipe.@clevelandclinic #homebaking

Try our lighter carrot cake, which the entire family will love. It has just the right texture, like a slightly sweetened, light corn bread. It’s great on its own or with a dollop of frozen whipped topping or nonfat ice cream.

Ingredients

No-stick baking spray with flour
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup granulated sugar substitute
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup nonfat dry milk
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ cup canola oil
1 large egg
¾ cup egg substitute
1 ½ cups finely grated carrots
2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons golden raisins
One 6-ounce can unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Coat a 10-inch pan with baking spray.
Sift the white and whole wheat flours into a large bowl. Add the sugar substitute, brown sugar, dry milk, baking soda, baking powder and spices. Stir to mix well. Using the medium setting of an electric mixer, beat in the oil, egg and egg substitute until the batter is smooth. Fold in the carrots, walnuts, raisins and pineapple.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan. Remove the outer ring of the pan and sift confectioners’ sugar over the top, if desired. Serve at room temperature.

Nutrition information

Makes 12 servings.

Serving: 1 slice

Calories: 120 (33% calories from fat)
Fat: 4.5g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Protein: 3g
Carbohydrates: 17g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Cholesterol: 15mg
Sodium: 180mg
Potassium: 125mg

Dietitian’s Note: Never has carrot cake tasted so good, and been so guiltless! When compared to traditional carrot cake with icing, you save 180 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 4 grams of saturated fat.

August 24, 2025

Bananas nature’s perfect snack @ClevelandClinic #therapeutic

Some have called bananas “nature’s perfect snack,” and it’s easy to see why. The curvy yellow fruits come conveniently packaged, travel well in a lunch bag or purse and are incredibly versatile. They make a great smoothie mixer or a tasty topper on cereal or oatmeal and even have their very own category of (delicious!) muffins and bread.

Are bananas healthy?

“Absolutely,” says registered dietitian Elyse Homan, RD, LD. “They’re full of nutrients and easy on the gut. Very few people have problems digesting bananas.”

So, what are you eating when you peel and enjoy? A medium-sized ripe banana contains:

105 calories.
1 gram of protein.
28 grams of carbohydrates.
15 grams of (natural) sugar.
3 grams of fiber.
Less than 1 gram of fat.

Health benefits of eating bananas

From vitamins to minerals to fiber, bananas are good for you, with lots of nutrition to offer. Plus, they’re easy to digest, reiterates Homan. Here’s a breakdown of banana’s most notable nutritional benefits:

1. Fiber for improved digestion and disease prevention

With 3 grams (g) of fiber, a banana supplies nearly 10% of what you need in a day, based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) dietary guidelines.

You hear “fiber” and probably automatically think of digestion. It’s true — fiber is great for your gut. It helps keep things moving in your intestines, and most of us probably need to eat more.

But fiber also impacts your health in other ways. Researchers who looked at data from nearly 200 studies found that people who ate 25 to 29 g of fiber a day had up to a 30% decreased risk of:

Colorectal cancer.
Heart disease.
High blood pressure.
High cholesterol.
Stroke.
Type 2 diabetes.

2. Vitamin C for better immune health

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient that helps your body absorb iron and boosts your immune system’s ability to fight illness. Adults need 75 to 90 milligrams (mg) per day. A banana delivers about 10 mg of vitamin C.

Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants you can get from food. Antioxidants are important because they cancel out free radicals in your body. Free radicals can build up and damage your cells, leading to disease. But antioxidants like vitamin C keep free radicals in check.

3. Vitamin B6 for improved metabolism and more

Your body needs vitamin B6 for:

Appetite regulation.
Immune system functions.
Metabolic processes.
Nervous system health.
Sleep regulation.

“One banana will give you one-quarter to one-third of the vitamin B6 you need in a day,” says Homan.

4. Potassium for organ health and lower blood pressure

The USDA recommended daily intake of potassium for adults is 4,700 to 5,000 mg. A banana supplies you with about 422 mg, or a little less than 10% of what you need per day.

Potassium, a mineral, does a lot for your body. It’s essential for the proper function of your:

Heart.
Kidneys.
Muscles.
Nerves.

Getting enough potassium also keeps your blood pressure in a healthy range. Potassium, which lowers blood pressure, balances out sodium, which raises blood pressure.

Homan says potassium also benefits your vascular system — the network of blood vessels and lymph vessels that run through your body’s tissues and organs — and reduces your risk of:

Heart disease.
Kidney failure.
Stroke.

5. Magnesium for improved blood pressure, blood sugar and more

A single medium-sized banana offers about 32 mg of the mineral magnesium, which fulfills around 8% to 10% of your daily magnesium requirement.

Magnesium is involved in many processes in your body, including:

Blood pressure.
Blood sugar levels.
Building proteins.
Maintaining bone.
Muscle function.
Nerve function.

Bananas and resistant starch

Green, or unripe, bananas are high in resistant starch. “Your body can’t digest resistant starch,” notes Homan. “Instead, it’s a prebiotic that promotes the growth of good bacteria in your colon.” Prebiotics improve digestive health and can be helpful if you’re experiencing diarrhea.

“I often hear patients say they avoid bananas since they’ve heard the fruit is too high in sugar,” says Homan. As bananas ripen, much of the resistant starch changes to sugar. But the health benefits of antioxidants and fiber outweigh the naturally occurring sugar. For those worried about blood sugar levels, pair bananas with a protein source such as peanut butter or a cheese stick for better control.

A small word of warning about unripe bananas: “If you’re not used to eating resistant starch, start slowly to let your body get used to it. Some people can experience constipation, gas and bloating at first,” adds Homan.

Another plus of this fruit? In addition to all the health benefits of bananas, they’re less expensive than many other fruits.

August 20, 2025

Recipe: Spring Veggie + Grain Bowl.@ClevelandClinic #healthaware

An easy way to lighten up your diet

Cleveland Clinic

@ClevelandClinic

This clean, light, flavorful meal is perfect any time of day! Look for local veggies, and you’ll know spring has truly sprung.
Ready for a spring-cleaning that doesn’t involve baseboards or windows? After a chilly winter filled with hearty soups and stews, there’s nothing like spring vegetables to lighten your, err, load.
Our Spring Veggie + Grain Bowl features ribbons of tender, sweet asparagus and carrots on a bed of fluffy quinoa. Radishes and jalapeño, plus a simple, light dressing of tahini, lemon juice and garlic, add zing and tang — plus loads of nutrients. This vegan dish makes a clean, light, flavorful lunch or dinner — or even breakfast. Look for local veggies, and you’ll know spring has truly sprung.
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
3 tablespoons tahini, well stirred
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 small clove garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
12 asparagus spears
3 carrots
6 radishes
1 jalapeño, seeds removed if desired
½ cup fresh parsley leaves
Directions
In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water over medium-high heat and let come to a boil. Stir once, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes more.
In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, water, lemon juice, garlic and salt.
Using a vegetable peeler, peel the asparagus and carrots into long ribbons. Thinly slice the radishes and jalapeño.
Divide the quinoa among bowls and add the vegetables. Drizzle on the dressing and scatter the parsley leaves over the top.
Nutritional information (per serving)
Makes 4 servings.
376 calories, 20 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 13 g protein, 39 g carbohydrate, 6 g dietary fiber, 3 g sugar, 0 g added sugar, 0 mg cholesterol, 112 mg sodium
*Source: Developed by Sara Quessenberry for Cleveland Clinic Wellness*

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/recipe-spring-veggie-grain-bowl/

August 19, 2025

Cleveland Clinic: The connection between pain and your brain:

cleveland chronic back pain

Chronic Back Pain? You May Find Relief With Behavioral Medicine

Understanding the brain’s relationship to pain

No pain, no gain? Not true for people suffering from chronic back pain. Instead, it’s the opposite: Back pain is one of the main causes of missed work (and missed paychecks).

But could the key to coping with chronic back pain be in your mind? “We actually know that pain is not just a sensory, or physical, experience,” says psychologist Sara Davin, PsyD, MPH. “It is also an emotional experience.”

Dr. Davin explains how you can harness your pain management super-powers by understanding the very real connection between pain and your thoughts.

The 411 on the mind-back pain connection

To understand how it all works, think of pain’s purpose. Pain is your brain’s way of alerting you that something is wrong, whether it’s a stubbed toe or a slipped disk.

How your brain processes an injury, then shares that information, has a direct connection to the level of pain you feel. You’re aware of pain because your brain tells you it’s there. (Psst — your brain also controls your thoughts and emotions.)

“Pain is processed in the brain and the central nervous system. Both have areas connected to the sensory experience, but both also have areas connected to the emotional experience,” Dr. Davin explains. “The sensory and emotional go together to create the output of one’s experience of pain. So to comprehensively treat chronic back pain, we have to look at both sides.”

And while traditional treatments like medications and physical therapy can take the edge off, they often ignore the elephant in the room: your thoughts.

“Managing back pain with behavioral medicine strategies might even prevent the pain from becoming chronic,” Dr. Davin states.

What is cognitive behavioral therapy for pain?

CBT for pain is talk therapy’s more specialized cousin. It’s a behavioral medicine strategy that teaches people how to:

Make the connection between how they think about their pain and the way they interpret it.
Understand how pain impacts their emotions.
Choose coping skills to help with how they function and behave.

Still not sold? Dr. Davin gives this example: Someone who feels that their pain is unbearable may cope by lying in bed and isolating themselves from activities they value. “This cycle can go on and on,” she explains. “The person becomes more helpless and then, from a physical standpoint, becomes weaker. Naturally, they now have even more pain.”

With CBT, that helpless feeling (and associated pain) is kicked to the curb because pain psychologists teach people how to:

Pace activities so they don’t overdo it.
Practice relaxation and meditation to decrease pain and stress.
Soothe their central nervous system, which increases the feeling of pain when under stress.

The proof is in the pudding. Dr. Davin runs an interdisciplinary program that uses physical therapy and CBT to treat chronic back pain. Patients participate in this program for 4 to 10 weeks, depending upon their progress.

“Folks in the program were better when compared to physical therapy alone,” she reports. “We have consistently seen significant improvements across all quality of life measures, including how much pain interferes with someone’s life, levels of fatigue, anxiety and depression, plus improvements in pain-related disability.”

Interestingly, one of the metrics that improves the most in the program is how satisfied participants are in their social roles. “In our program we teach people how to start having fun again and connected with others,” Dr. Davin notes. “I suspect this is why we see people wanting to be more socially active after the program.”

3 ways to put this new knowledge into action

Here’s how you can incorporate behavioral medicine strategies into your back pain management:

Find a good pain management doctor. “You want a doctor who helps you rehabilitate and regain quality of life, but who also thinks about pain beyond its physical components,” Dr. Davin says. “Patients often struggle with the behavioral piece and think it means that their pain isn’t real. But your pain is real — you just need someone to help you manage it better using behavioral medicine skills and strategies. Pain psychologists are trained to do this.”
Get your research on. Dr. Davin suggests powering up your e-reader and searching for books that outline the basic strategies for cognitive behavioral therapy for pain. Your doctor may also recommend an online course or resources that offer science-based education about how to overcome chronic pain.
Don’t neglect physical therapy. Dr. Davin emphasizes that physical therapy is essential to maximizing back pain relief. “A physical therapist who’s trained in pain and neuroscience education can explain why behavioral medicine treatments work, plus help you use them,” she says.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/chronic-back-pain-you-may-find-relief-with-behavioral-medicine/

August 19, 2025

Recipe: Salmon Marsala @ClevelandClinic

This recipe switches up chicken marsala by swapping in salmon. It’s a great way to get delicious and healthy fish on the menu. You should be able to find Marsala wine in the cooking wines or condiments section of your local grocery store.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, cut into wedges
1 teaspoon minced garlic
10 fresh mushrooms, sliced (or one 7-ounce can of sliced mushrooms, drained)
4 (4 ounces each) skinless salmon filets
1/3 cup Marsala wine
2/3 cup chicken broth (1/3 less sodium)
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
4 teaspoons cornstarch
4 grinds of fresh ground pepper

Directions

Prep the onions and mushrooms.
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add onion, garlic and mushrooms to the skillet and begin sautéing.
Add the salmon filets to the skillet, cooking for 10 minutes per inch of thickness (turn them over midway in the cooking time).
Mix together the wine, broth, cornstarch and fresh ground pepper; when the fish is nearly done (you can tell by twisting the center of the thickest part — if it flakes easily, it’s done), add the wine/broth mixture to the salmon.
Stir gently, as the liquid turns into a thick gravy within one minute. Serve over whole-grain pasta or brown rice, with steamed asparagus or vegetable of your choice.

Ingredient health benefits

Olive oil: Olive oil is one of those ingredients that’s actually worth the hoopla. It has fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins D and K, which support your bones and blood cells. It’s also home to unsaturated fats that help decrease your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase your HDL (“good”) cholesterol, helping your heart stay happy. And if you need another reason to use olive oil beyond this recipe, it has polyphenols and other antioxidants to fight inflammation and free radicals, keeping your cells in peak condition and helping to prevent diseases down the road.
Onions: They may not be the most “a-peel-ing” ingredient in the produce aisle, but looks can be deceiving. Onions have prebiotics and fiber to feed your “good” gut bacteria and support healthy digestion. And that’s not all those layers have to offer! There are also vitamin C and flavonoids that help lower inflammation while boosting your immunity.
Garlic: Like onions, these alliums aren’t the most exciting of foods. But “unremarkable” doesn’t mean “devoid of nutrition.” On the contrary, garlic is considered a superfood! Aside from keeping vampires away, eating garlic may strengthen your immunity as part of a well-balanced eating plan. It might also help regulate your blood pressure, and certain natural compounds in garlic can lower inflammation and protect your cells from damage.
Mushrooms: They may not be plants or animals, but mushrooms are just as nutritious! They’re packed with antioxidants like selenium and zinc that promote healing and may enhance your immune cells’ ability to fight diseases like cancer. Mushrooms are also a surprising source of B vitamins — like vitamins B3,B5 and B6 — which are crucial for creating and fixing DNA, as well as helping your body turn the food you eat into usable energy. Even your heart can benefit from the potassium found in these fantastic fungi, which helps regulate your blood pressure and keep the beat.
Salmon: Not just for the bears! This hearty fish is a complete protein that’s pescatarian-friendly, meaning it has all the amino acids your body needs to keep moving. Salmon is also low in mercury content and high in omega-3s, heart-helpful fats that are essential for your head-to-toe health. And that’s not all for omega-3s! They also double as an anti-inflammatory that promotes your immune system.

Nutrition information (per serving)

Makes 4 servings

Calories: 450
Fat: 12 g
Fiber: 9 g
Sodium: 147 mg (doesn’t include the optional salt)
Carbohydrates: 44 g
Protein: 37 g

— Recipe courtesy of Speaking of Women’s Health.

August 18, 2025

Recipe: Salmon Marsala @ClevelandClinic

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, cut into wedges
1 teaspoon minced garlic
10 fresh mushrooms, sliced (or one 7-ounce can of sliced mushrooms, drained)
4 (4 ounces each) skinless salmon filets
1/3 cup Marsala wine
2/3 cup chicken broth (1/3 less sodium)
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
4 teaspoons cornstarch
4 grinds of fresh ground pepper

Directions

Prep the onions and mushrooms.
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add onion, garlic and mushrooms to the skillet and begin sautéing.
Add the salmon filets to the skillet, cooking for 10 minutes per inch of thickness (turn them over midway in the cooking time).
Mix together the wine, broth, cornstarch and fresh ground pepper; when the fish is nearly done (you can tell by twisting the center of the thickest part — if it flakes easily, it’s done), add the wine/broth mixture to the salmon.
Stir gently, as the liquid turns into a thick gravy within one minute. Serve over whole-grain pasta or brown rice, with steamed asparagus or vegetable of your choice.

Ingredient health benefits

Olive oil: Olive oil is one of those ingredients that’s actually worth the hoopla. It has fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins D and K, which support your bones and blood cells. It’s also home to unsaturated fats that help decrease your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase your HDL (“good”) cholesterol, helping your heart stay happy. And if you need another reason to use olive oil beyond this recipe, it has polyphenols and other antioxidants to fight inflammation and free radicals, keeping your cells in peak condition and helping to prevent diseases down the road.
Onions: They may not be the most “a-peel-ing” ingredient in the produce aisle, but looks can be deceiving. Onions have prebiotics and fiber to feed your “good” gut bacteria and support healthy digestion. And that’s not all those layers have to offer! There are also vitamin C and flavonoids that help lower inflammation while boosting your immunity.
Garlic: Like onions, these alliums aren’t the most exciting of foods. But “unremarkable” doesn’t mean “devoid of nutrition.” On the contrary, garlic is considered a superfood! Aside from keeping vampires away, eating garlic may strengthen your immunity as part of a well-balanced eating plan. It might also help regulate your blood pressure, and certain natural compounds in garlic can lower inflammation and protect your cells from damage.
Mushrooms: They may not be plants or animals, but mushrooms are just as nutritious! They’re packed with antioxidants like selenium and zinc that promote healing and may enhance your immune cells’ ability to fight diseases like cancer. Mushrooms are also a surprising source of B vitamins — like vitamins B3,B5 and B6 — which are crucial for creating and fixing DNA, as well as helping your body turn the food you eat into usable energy. Even your heart can benefit from the potassium found in these fantastic fungi, which helps regulate your blood pressure and keep the beat.
Salmon: Not just for the bears! This hearty fish is a complete protein that’s pescatarian-friendly, meaning it has all the amino acids your body needs to keep moving. Salmon is also low in mercury content and high in omega-3s, heart-helpful fats that are essential for your head-to-toe health. And that’s not all for omega-3s! They also double as an anti-inflammatory that promotes your immune system.

Nutrition information (per serving)

Makes 4 servings

Calories: 450
Fat: 12 g
Fiber: 9 g
Sodium: 147 mg (doesn’t include the optional salt)
Carbohydrates: 44 g
Protein: 37 g

— Recipe courtesy of Speaking of Women’s Health.

August 14, 2025

Recipe: Peruvian Blue Potato Salad @ClevelandClinic

Peru has been cultivating potatoes for more than 6,000 years in the high Andean slopes near Lake Titicaca.

A stroll through the public markets reveals a startling number of sizes, shapes and colors — including the famous Peruvian blue potatoes with their purplish-blue skin and flesh.

It’s fun to use these blue potatoes, but if your market doesn’t carry them or if you prefer other potatoes, you can always use small red or white potatoes.

Ingredients

Kosher salt
1 1/4 pounds small Peruvian blue potatoes
1/4 cup minced red onions
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 large tomato, seeded and chopped
1 jalepeño, seeded and minced
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar substitute
2 hard-boiled egg whites, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
1/2 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
2 tablespoons sliced black olives, optional

Directions

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Simmer the potatoes until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on size. Drain and cool. Quarter or slice into bite-sized pieces and place in a bowl.
Combine the potatoes and the onion, bell peppers, tomato, jalepeño, vinegar, oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt (if using), sugar substitute, egg whites, oregano and cheese. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with olives, if using.

Nutritional information (per serving)

Makes 8 servings

Calories: 200 calories (31% from fat)
Total fat: 7 g
Saturated fat: 1.5 g
Protein: 7 g
Carbohydrate: 31 g
Dietary fiber: 2 g
Cholesterol: 5 mg
Sodium: 95 mg
Potassium: 109 mg

August 13, 2025

Recipe: Caramelized Pineapple With Raspberries @ClevelandClinic

Cleveland Clinic

@ClevelandClinic
·
28m

This is a last-minute dessert that can be made post-dinner, while you brew the coffee and finish clearing the table

health.clevelandclinic.org

Recipe: Caramelized Pineapple With Raspberries

A refined, refreshing and quick dessert that will impress your guests

This is a last-minute dessert that can be made post-dinner, while you brew the coffee and finish clearing the table. Have ingredients and equipment ready beforehand — just be sure to turn the pineapple once and give the skillet a couple of shakes and voila! You’ll have a delightfully sweet dessert ready at your fingertips.

Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup sugar substitute
1 pineapple, peeled, cored and sliced into six wedges lengthwise
Butter-flavored cooking spray, refrigerated
1 tablespoon trans-fat free margarine
2 tablespoons Cognac or fresh orange juice
1 cup fresh raspberries

Directions

Combine the sugar and sugar substitute. Sprinkle half of the mixture over one side of the pineapple. Turn and sprinkle the rest on the other side.
Lightly coat a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray. Add the margarine and melt over high heat. Place the pineapple in the skillet and cook, turning once and shaking the pan often, until it turns golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. (The pineapple can be prepared to this point and held for one hour.)
Transfer the pineapple wedges to six dessert dishes, leaving the sauce that has formed in the pan.
Stir the cognac into the pan to thin the sauce. Heat briefly. Drizzle the sauce over the pineapple and sprinkle with equal portions of the raspberries. Serve warm.

Nutritional information (per serving)

Makes 6 servings

Calories: 118
Total fat: 3 g
Protein: 0.1 g
Carbohydrate: 22 g
Dietary fiber: 2 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 0 mg
Potassium: 122 mg