Interested in cooking with something NEW this Holiday Season?!

So, it’s the HOLIDAY SEASON (Hooray!)…..one of the neat  things that makes this season so merry & bright is all of the delicious, amazing, and ever-so-tasty dishes we will be eating.  Can I get an “OH-YEAH!!”

……Holiday parties, Work celebrations, Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas breakfast, Christmas dinner, New Year’s Eve dinner, New Year’s dinner…… Did I get them all?

Everyone will be trying new recipes or trying to re-create a famous family tradition dish.  Whether you’re doing the baking or the eating (!),  

.……what if I told you there’s a way to stay healthy THROUGH the holiday season?!   

If you are preparing to bring a dish, dessert, or snack to an event, try to switch out or slide in a few ingredients for a healthy alternative and let the guilt-free eating begin!

{emphasis added}!

Since most of the holidays snacks revolve around cakes, pies, cookies, what is the common ingredient among them all?

FLOUR.

White flour or baking mixes are typically the base for these which is an easy way to get into trouble this season when taking a few too many bites.  These are typically stripped of all the nutrients which leads to being more of a filler to make your dish fluffy rather than nourishing.

Instead of using white flour or baking mixes, you can instead, replace with HEALTHY FLOURS and it doesn’t alter the taste!

Healthy Flours typically stem from ancient grains, are diabetic-friendly, are often gluten-free that will provide you with added fiber and way less sugar than using white flour.

So just by trading OUT this one ingredient, you’ve already made it a healthy treat.

Here’s a list of Healthy Flours: 

• Rice
• Coconut
• Almond
• Chickpea
• Oat 
• Quinoa
• White Bean

Other ways to sneak in healthy ingredients…..

• Blend black beans into your brownie batter
• Make dishes with healthy fats (avocado, coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk)
• Use sea salt instead of table salt for minerals & added benefits
• Add fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, etc. for added flavor and lessens the need for dressings
• Use stevia, honey, fruit, or maple syrup for sweeteners
• Try dairy alternatives (yes, there is a healthy Cool Whip made with coconut milk!)
• Use cauliflower for pie crusts or even for mashed potatoes
• Make a dish where the recipe calls for heavy vegetables (roasted squash, etc.)

When attending various events and eye balling all of the amazingness presented before you…..keep in mind SMALL BITES and don’t over do it!  Often if you take one small bite you have satisfied that craving.  Try drinking water or a cup of hot tea before you eat which will also help you stay in control and reduce chances of overeating or trying too many things!

So, are you up for the challenge?  Ready to try these new things this holiday season?!