When it comes to maintaining a balanced diet, many people wonder how sweets fit in, especially concerning dental health. Experts suggest that sweets can be part of a balanced diet if you pay attention to portion sizes and choose healthier options. Controlling the quantity of sweets can help satisfy your cravings without compromising your dental health. Nutrition expert Sarah-Jane Bedwell, RD, recommends allowing yourself a daily treat of 100-200 calories. To make these treats healthier, choose options that provide some nutritional benefits, such as baked chips, low-fat baked goods, and candy made with dark chocolate, nuts, or dried fruit. For children, fruit can be an excellent base for desserts as it is naturally sweet and nutritious. Serve fruit with a dollop of dairy topping or use it to top low-fat pudding or ice cream. This not only increases the portion size but also adds nutritional value. Occasionally, indulging in calorie-dense treats like cake or cookies is fine, but it's easy to overeat these. Limiting the variety of treats at home can help control temptation. Make your own snack packs from economy-sized bags of baked chips or cookies to save money and keep portions in check. For healthier homemade treats, replace half the fat with applesauce or canola oil, use whole-grain pastry flour, and add nutritious extras like dried fruit and nuts. Single-serve portions can also help control intake. For refreshing summertime treats, freeze whipped yogurt, fruit, or 100% fruit juice in paper cups. Keep bags of frozen fruit handy to microwave as a topping on ice cream or to make smoothies and sorbets. Cold treats are more satisfying as they need to be enjoyed slowly to avoid brain freeze.