9 Indulgent Foods That Won't Ruin Your Diet

"Diet" is a four-letter word. And although most of us dislike the word, we are on a diet or at least watching what we eat most of the time. Luckily, there are a few indulgent foods that we can eat guilt-free. We've rounded up some of the most creamy and luxurious foods that can still keep your diet in check.

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One food in particular can be toasted and eaten by itself or creamed and used as a spread. Nuts — from peanuts to cashews to almonds and more — are a dieter's best friend. They are great eaten alongside some dried fruit or ground and used as a creamy butter.

There are plenty of other creamy foods that a dieter can indulge in without bolstering the bulge. Dips made out of beans (like hummus and black bean dip) and those made with healthy superfoods (like guacamole) are great alternatives to party dips instead of sour cream and mayonnaise-based appetizers.

Check out our list of some of the best indulgent foods to eat while dieting — and we've even included a cookie on the list! Gasp! And of course remember that dieting isn't about saying you can't eat what you want, it's about changing your eating habits to learn to enjoy healthier foods that are equally as decadent. 

Crackers Dipped in Nut Butters

Nut butters like peanut, cashew, or almond are creamy and indulgent spreads that won't ruin your diet. They are full of healthy fats and proteins. Spread them on whole-wheat crackers of bread.

Pretzels and Hummus

For a healthy snack, try eating unsalted pretzels with either homemade or store-bought hummus. The pretzels are easy-to-digest carbs and the hummus is a good source of protein.

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Emily Jacobs is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyRecipes.