Everyone had room for a small slice of the Boston cream pie. A meal like this has become the expected fare at destination spas, where chefs using high-quality natural ingredients focus on flavor and presentation as well as controlled calories, lower fat and high fiber in their dishes. Spa food is no longer carrot sticks, celery and sprouts. One spa offers black bean and vegetable quesadillas made with a whole-wheat tortilla and spiced with salsa. Optional cheese increases the caloric count to a mere 295.
Desserts run the gamut from fresh fruit to cheesecake or nonfat frozen yogurt with fudge sauce.
To sweeten their creations chefs use fresh fruit concentrates as well as fructose, honey, molasses, and raw sugar. Culinary surprises at all meals tempt a wide range of tastes. Yet daily cuisine always meets the requirements of a well-balanced diet. Small amounts of preferred fats, such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, olives and avocados are used whenever necessary to enhance the flavor or texture of a dish. Destination spas' gourmet dishes with healthy twists provide a winning combination.