The holiday season is upon us, along with an abundance of delicious holiday desserts. Tasty desserts are a staple at holiday gatherings of friends and families and for people trying to eat healthy, getting through the holiday season can be a difficult task. Not all holiday desserts will derail you from your healthy eating habits; there are little tips and tricks you can use to make your favourite recipes healthier and they’ll still be just as scrumptious as ever!
If cookies are your favourite holiday treat, consider making mini cookies or bite-sized cookies instead of standard sized or jumbo cookies. Smaller cookies contain fewer calories, saturated fat and other things you’re trying to avoid. You can sometimes substitute butter with honey, as honey is a healthier sweetener that provides a rich, sweet taste. If you cannot substitute honey for butter, try and use unsalted butter if possible.
No holiday dessert plate would be complete without delicious chocolate treats. There are several secrets to make your chocolate recipes healthier, including using natural cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate with 70% cacao as an alternative to regular chocolate. These tricks apply to chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, chocolate puddings and any other tasty treats that contain chocolate. Now you can be a chocolate lover and a healthy eater at the same time.
And don’t forget the holiday drinks! Mulled wine is an excellent holiday drink, as red wine is quite healthy for the heart. It’s the perfect drink to keep you and your guests warm and cosy on a cold winter’s night and it’s very simple to prepare. No holiday party would be complete without egg nog; most recipes call for whole milk but you can substitute a low-fat alternative instead. A great cup of egg nog really keeps the cold out. And let’s not forget about great mocktails like an Apple Cinnamon. This simple recipe from the Food & Drink Mag; simply fill a wine goblet with ice. Add 2 oz. cranberry juice (think antioxidants) and 4 oz. chilled apple cider. Stir to mix. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and voilà, a great non alcoholic treat for the party.
Eating healthy during the holidays doesn’t have to be impossible. There are tips and tricks you can use to create delicious, holiday desserts that will allow you to indulge while still focusing on your healthy habits.