Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding Parfait

May 7, 2015

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using food as a form of celebration. Nope, I don’t! This Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding Parfait is a celebration every time I make it.

You know who was a big fan of bringing people together with food? My late mother. Her Thanksgiving dinners routinely drew 40+ people and even more in the summer for a taste of her scrumptious seafood salad!  But it was more than just the food. There was bonding. I was her kitchen assistant. I would chop onions and peppers, snap green beans, clean collards and generally do the “grunge” work (at least I thought so back then). My mom’s job was to make the magic. Somewhere in the middle of all that we discussed life and love (and a good bit of celebrity gossip).

After I had RNY gastric bypass surgery in 2008, I longed for those moments with my mother. But I couldn’t eat as much and I couldn’t eat the same things. For a while we didn’t know how to get back to our beloved times in the kitchen. That’s when I started experimenting and asking my mom to experiment with me.

I’ll admit my first attempts failed. She was brutally honest in her opinions. But then one day I got the idea for this dessert (one of many, many, many cheesecake-themed creations I’d dream up on Bariatric Foodie) and brought it to her, nervously. She took the tiniest bite possible, tasted it and, after what seemed an eternity, said, “Hmph. I like this.”  It was like Christmas, the Fourth of July and my birthday combined!

Since my mom passed away in 2012, I’ve found many ways to remember her, including making recipes that remind me of her. This Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding Parfait recipe reminds me that even though my lifestyle may have changed, our love and bonding over food did not. I hope you enjoy it – along with precious time with those you love.

Recipe for Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding Parfait

(Makes about 5-ish servings)

Ingredients:

• 1 box sugar-free instant cheesecake flavored pudding mix
• 1 container (11 oz.) Premier Protein Strawberry protein shake
• 6 oz. container plain Greek yogurt (Note: Do use plain, it cuts the sweetness of the pudding mix and the protein shake combined!)
• 1 oz. reduced fat cream cheese, softened (it amps up the cheesecake factor…)
• ¼ tsp. lemon juice
• About 10 strawberries (or 2 per parfait), hulled and sliced
• Whipped cream
• Optional (pictured): sliced almonds

Directions:

1.  Place the instant pudding mix and protein shake in a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed about 2 minutes. (You want to work out any powder lumps.)
2.  Add the Greek yogurt, cream cheese and lemon juice and mix again, until combined. Refrigerate at least two hours.
3.  To assemble: place a few sliced strawberries at the bottom of a cup or bowl. Top with ¼ c. pudding mixture, then a dab of whipped cream. Repeat.

If you like a little crunch, you can use high-protein granola in there too. These days I like to crush a bit of Fiber One and add it as a layer (my mom did not like it that way!). Toasted almond slices would be lovely as well.

Those who read my blog, Bariatric Foodie, know I normally do not give out nutrition facts (there are good reasons), but since OH generally does, I’m happy to say that my version per serving (including strawberries and whipped cream) has:
111 calories, 2 g fat, 13 g carbs, 1g fiber, 9.5g protein

Please consult a nutrition calculator with the ingredients you intend to use to get the most accurate nutrition facts for your recipe. And, of course, as I always say at Bariatric Foodie, “Play with your food!”

Originally Published on Bariatric Foodie, reprint shared with permission of Nikki Massie.
Photo credit:  Nikki Massie

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nikki Massie is the author of Bariatric Foodie, a website and online community that encourages weight loss surgery patients to “play with their food.” She is the author of three books: The Bariatric Foodie Guide to Perfect Protein Shakes, The Bariatric Foodie Holiday Survival Guide and The Bariatric Foodie Breakfast Book. Nikki lives Maryland with her boyfriend, 2 daughters, adorable Basset Hound & slightly high-maintenance black cat. Read more articles by Nikki!

Recipe Disclaimer: If you have specific dietary restrictions, allergies or a nutrition plan that you are following, make sure to read the ingredient list prior to consumption. All information on ObesityHelp.com is intended for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional. Please contact a medical professional with any questions and concerns.

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