Celebration Desserts

Part of the Food Talk series

Let’s talk about celebration desserts…

From weddings and birthdays to anniversaries and christenings, dessert often marks the joyful finale of life’s most meaningful celebrations. It’s the sweet punctuation that brings the gathering to a delicious close. These celebrations of life’s moments are so very important. I believe there are ways to make these “sweet endings” healthier without sacrificing the flavor or the ritual!

My Realistic Guidelines for Healthier Celebration Desserts:

1. The celebrated person gets to choose what they want—it’s about them, after all. (For surprises, I try to find out what they like and use that as a guide.)
2. Make as many healthy substitutions as possible without changing the spirit of the requested dessert.
3. Focus on good-quality ingredients.
4. Serve in smaller portions: smaller slices or mini desserts in individual portions.
5. This should go without saying, but here it is: No one has to eat dessert. If you don’t want or feel like it, that is fine!
6. Enjoy! Celebrating milestones and accomplishments helps keep us connected and brings so much joy. I believe a little indulgence done in moderation is part of a healthy lifestyle.

When food is made with love and enjoyed in good company, it nourishes more than just the body—it feeds the soul.

Celebrations Can Be Good For Your Health

A recent study found that celebrating life’s moments—big and small—helps us feel more supported. This sense of support is linked to positive health outcomes like reduced depression, longer lifespan, and even greater generosity through behaviors like volunteering and donating.

The study also identified 3 key components of celebrations:

At the heart of every celebration is connection—through shared stories, laughter, and maybe, a sweet bite at the end. With just a few thoughtful choices, we can honor traditions, savor the moment, and still care for our health. When food is made with love and enjoyed in good company, it nourishes more than just the body—it feeds the soul.

Looking for dessert recipes worthy of your celebrations?

Sources

Brick, D. J., Wight, K. G., Bettman, J. R., Chartrand, T. L., & Fitzsimons, G. J. (2023). Celebrate Good Times: How Celebrations Increase Perceived Social Support. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 42(2), 115-132. https://doi.org/10.1177/07439156221145696 (Original work published 2023)

Sudhakar, S. (2023, February 1). Prescription to party? celebrating milestones is good for your health: Study. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2023/02/01/celebrating-lifes-best-moments-good-for-our-health-study/