Summer treats like ice creams, sundaes and trifles aren't great if you're trying to cut down. The good news? There are plenty of delicious low-cal options for getting a sugar kick while staying healthy. Our super simple desserts have fewer calories and don't compromise on flavour. The calorie counts have been worked out by loveFOOD's nutritionist Angela Dowden and are approximate.

For a healthy summer dessert, whizz frozen banana slices in a sturdy blender. The result? Delicious soft serve that tastes like ice cream. It's fat-free, contains no added sugar, counts as a portion of fruit and is low calorie. It's also a great option for those who are dairy intolerant.

In summer, dark, sweet cherries can be found in every supermarket and grocery store freezer section. For a light pud, add a good drizzle of gin, vodka or kirsch (about 1tbsp per 100g/3.5oz of cherries), and leave soaking in the fridge until properly thawed. Enjoy on their own or with a little crème fraîche or Greek yogurt. A serving here is 3tbsps.

Granitas are light, thirst-quenching and refreshing (and, best of all, don't require any churning). You could use any sweet fruit to blitz and freeze but we particularly love mango granita, especially when the recipe advises adding a splash of rum. It makes a perfect dinner party dessert.

Watermelon is so sweet it doesn't need anything else to make excellent popsicles. To make, pulp the watermelon flesh in a liquidiser and strain out the pips before freezing. Top tip: round, rather than oval-shaped, watermelons are usually sweeter. Look for web-like brown marks on the skin too – this is also a sign of a super sweet fruit. A serving size here is 75ml (2.5floz), frozen.

Whizz sweet pineapple chunks (fresh or canned) in a blender with reduced-fat coconut milk in the ratio of 4 to 1. Freeze the mixture in popsicle moulds and you have a tasty icy treat to see you through summer. A serving size here is 75ml (2.5floz), frozen.

Update your popsicle repertoire with kiwis. Skin and chop 10 kiwi fruit (the golden variety are sweeter), then whizz in a blender with 240ml (8floz) pineapple juice, 4tsps of honey (or to taste) and a good splash of lime juice. A serving size here is 75ml (2.5floz), frozen.

Sorbet can be sugary but it’s fairly light on the calorie front, due to the absence of fat. As a sweet treat now and again it’s fine. Shop-bought sorbet is good if you’re in a rush but you can’t beat homemade. Give this classic lemon sorbet recipe a go.

Mango and lime are the perfect match – the zingy acidity of the citrus complements the velvety sweetness of the mango. Mangoes also provide vitamin C as well as vitamin A – both help keep the immune system healthy. A simple, sweet dessert with added benefits.

To make six servings of a lighter chocolate mousse, separate six eggs and whisk the whites until they hold their shape, and the yolks until pale yellow. Meanwhile, melt 170g (6oz) of 70% cocoa chocolate in a bowl over hot water. When melted, slowly whisk in the egg yolks (make sure the chocolate isn’t too hot or it will scramble the eggs), then add 1tbsp of brandy and fold in the egg whites. Portion into six bowls and refrigerate.

A childhood favourite, jelly (or Jell-O as it's known in the US) tastes good at any age and has only 100 calories per 125g (4.4oz) serving, even the full sugar version. Opt for the sugar-free variety to drop to less than 10 calories – about as slimline a dessert as you could wish for. For extra nutrients and flavour, add fresh or canned fruit.

Give the classic apple pie a summery twist by only using pastry on the top and making a lattice lid rather than a solid one. If it's a scorching day, it would be lovely served chilled.

A dessert that tastes as good as it looks, a watermelon bowl piled high with fruit and yogurt is a summertime winner. To make, cut a small watermelon in half and scoop out a hole. Fill with 2 heaped tbsps of creamy Greek yogurt and a couple of handfuls of your favourite fruit – blueberries, raspberries and bananas work well.

If you have a glut of summer berries, a sweet gazpacho is the perfect way to use them up. Berries are packed with anthocyanins which give them their vibrant colours. These plant chemicals also reportedly have anti-inflammatory effects and help keep blood vessels flexible.

This lighter take on a sponge pudding combines a layer of lime sponge sitting on top of a pool of hot lime curd. The summery citrus flavours result in a pudding that’s better for your waistline with less than 300 calories per serving (sticky toffee pudding can have upwards of 500 calories).

Grilling really intensifies the sweetness of nectarines, turning them into a decadent treat. Choose ripe but not over-soft fruit, and barbecue them halved and pitted, brushed with oil. They're great served with a little tangy crème fraîche. The calorie count here is for a small nectarine.

Bananas lend themselves brilliantly to barbecuing – just peel, dot with butter and sprinkle over a little brown sugar before loosely wrapping in foil and placing over the coals for 10–15 minutes. They'll become irresistibly caramelised. The calorie count here is for one banana.

Grilling also brings out the best in fresh pineapple. For extra punch, dot thick pineapple rings with butter, honey and a splash of Tabasco, before putting onto an oiled barbecue grill. The calorie count here is for a slice.

Need a sweet afternoon pick-me-up? This cooling healthy drink has got you covered. Whizz 500g (18oz) of hulled ripe strawberries with 250g (9oz) whole milk natural yogurt, only adding a tablespoon or two of sugar if you really need to. Add ice cubes (optional) and serve. This recipe will make three glasses.

For crunchy-topped baked grapefruit, sprinkle each half grapefruit with 2tsps of brown sugar and pop in the oven for 15 minutes at 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6. Each half will also provide more than a third of your daily vitamin C recommendation.

A good-quality balsamic vinegar makes strawberries taste even sweeter and adds some extra complexity to the fruit. Mix 330g (11.5oz) of chopped strawberries in 1tbsp each of balsamic vinegar and caster sugar. Leave for a few minutes at room temperature, then serve. Discover more hero ingredients that can bring out the best in dishes here.

Strawberries are the epitome of summer. The wonderful berries are packed with more vitamin C than oranges and are a good source of folate, a B vitamin that can help fight fatigue. For extra decadence, dip them in a little melted 70% cocoa chocolate and serve on cocktail sticks. A serving here is six berries.

The latest breed of lower-calorie ice creams taste amazing and they aren’t bad for you either. Fat and sugar content are usually lower and, through the addition of ingredients like chicory and inulin, they may be a source of fibre.

Read more: 27 low-carb cheats to get your diet back on track