As a child, Christmas, and the Holiday Season in general, was mainly about the gifts. I know I’m not the only one who would lie in bed wide-awake on Christmas Eve, anxious to see what Santa was going to leave for me. But as we got older, priorities changed, and while I’m sure we all still like the gifting part of the Season (to give is better than to receive!), parties and all the sweet-treats that go along with them are usually right up there as well. Am I wrong?
Now, the only problem with this love of sweets and Holiday parties is how we feel after. The over-indulging is great while it’s happening, but what about after? The headaches and nausea that we feel… and the guilt!
I want you to enjoy your Holiday Season, and all the sweet-treats that go along with it, so I have come up with a list of 10 alternatives that will leave you satisfied, minus the remorse. These are simple substitutions you can make when choosing what to eat, and/or how to make it.
1. Stevia: This all-natural sweetener is truly God’s gift. It’s sweeter than sugar, but doesn’t have any calories. Plus, it is completely free of chemicals. Move over Splenda.
2. “Raw” cookies: Cookies that do not need to be cooked are often much better for you because they lack the binding agents, such as lbs. of butter, to hold them together while baking. Although many still have loads of unhealthy ingredients, those that are made with dried fruit or jams, or ground nuts are sure to be at least a tad healthier.
3. Tarts vs. Pies: The Holidays are all about sweet indulgences, so I don’t want to take those away from you. However, eating a tart will usually save you a vast amount of calories, sugar, and often belly-ache. Moreover, if you skip the crust altogether, you will be doing yourself even more of a favor.
4. Raw cocoa: Unlike “chocolate” which is full of added sugars and fats, raw cocoa is truly good for you. It is full of antioxidants and has a very deep, rich flavor. A little goes a long way.
5. Vanilla Extract: Use Pure Vanilla Extract, but make sure you check the label. Many extracts are made with corn-syrup – another ingredient that should be avoided entirely.
6. Whole-wheat flour: Use this instead of white-flour in baked goods. The added fiber and nutrients will make your pastries (at least a little) more nutritious.
7. Fruit: Fruit-filled desserts often contain less artificial flavorings and sugars than those that are filled with chocolate, or creams, etc. But be aware, just because there is fruit in it, does not mean it is healthy. A raspberry on top of a cookie does not constitute health.
8. Molasses: Molasses is a very rich syrup and is often used in desserts around the Holidays. Although not a “health food” by any means, it does contain a variety of nutrients that normal sugar does not. Furthermore, it is quite sweet and therefore can be used sparingly.
9. Maple Syrup: There are plenty of “syrups” out there, so make sure to look at the label before you buy. Grade-B is the best (and often most-expensive) syrup, due to the lack of refinement that it undergoes. It contains many nutrients and is very rich. Grade-A syrup is also pretty good, but avoid any “syrups” that contain corn-syrup, because these aren’t actually syrups at all.
10. Mulled Cider: There is nothing like home-made Mulled Cider for the Holidays. The aroma alone brings Christmas cheer. Filled with fresh apple cider, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and the like, this sweet drink will help to satisfy your taste-buds while being kind to your belly. Don’t fall for the bottled junk though. The added sugar that goes into it is equivalent to eating several cookies, and not worth it.
The Holiday season is a time to enjoy. With so much stress going on all year long, it is nice to settle down and relax with friends and family, and enjoy a couple treats while we are at it. But please note, after Christmas comes New Year’s and all the Resolutions that usually parallel it, so why not make a few smarter choices now so you will already be a few pounds ahead of the game?
For more Holiday tips and tricks please check out my other posts: Top 10 Food Substitutions for the Holidays, and Pre-Holiday Eating: the Do’s and Don’ts.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Top 10 Food Substitutions for the Holidays
You have enough going on this Holiday season to have to put anything else on your plate – so then why do you keep putting more stuff on your plate – literally?! It’s so easy to get stressed out and over-whelmed this time of year. The Holidays are supposed to be all about cheer, and giving, and love – so then why do they feel like stress, and anxiety, and…
Let me make this easy on you. You know that you should be eating healthy, and you know that healthy eating will make you feel better. You just don’t know how to do it – especially this time of year when there aren’t a lot of healthy options to choose from.
Well, here are 10 simple food substitutions that you can make this Holiday season, to help you feel better about the food you are eating and the way you are treating your body. After all, why wait until January 1st to start your annual “get healthy” kick?
1. Almond milk (Rice or Soymilk can work too): Almond milk has a creamy texture and a very neutral taste (just make sure you buy the Unsweetened). It has less calories than fat-free milk and is much easier on your digestive system. Plus, it had additional nutrients that you just won’t find in cow’s milk.
2. Yogurt (Organic): Use yogurt instead of cream in recipes. It will thicken them up without adding all the fat and calories. Greek yogurt works great, as it is a bit thicker than regular yogurt, but either can work.
3. Stevia: This is the greatest substitute for sugar. A little goes a very long way. It is calorie free and is 100% natural (unlike all the other sugar substitutes out there). Just make sure you adjust the wet-ingredients in a recipe if you are replacing it with sugar because the ratio will be off.
4. Whole-wheat flour: Substitute for white-flour in recipes, or ask for whole-wheat pastas, breads, etc. when ordering out. White flour is white because they bleach it – and you know that can’t be good for you!
5. Brown rice: Just like white-flour, white-rice is refined to get it down to that white color, stripping away most of the nutrients. Brown rice has a better texture anyway, so eat up.
6. Coconut oil (Organic, un-refined): Use this in place of butter. It has the same consistency as butter does (hard when cold, liquid when warm), and can be substituted ounce for ounce in recipes. And while it is still a saturated fat, your body processes it differently than butter, and it can actually help speed up your metabolism. I will warn you that it does have a slight taste to it (which I happen to love; especially on fish and in baked goods).
7. Raw cocoa: Unlike “chocolate” which is full of added sugars and fats, raw cocoa is truly good for you. It is full of antioxidants and has a very deep, rich flavor. A little goes a long way.
8. Sweet potatoes: Known as a Holiday treat already (because of the loads of sugar and butter that is usually added to them), sweet potatoes have a surprising amount of good for you qualities. Substitute them for white potatoes (baked, in casseroles, etc.) and enjoy the added vitamins. Please, forego the butter and sugar though.
9. Home-made Spiced Nuts: Who doesn’t love Spiced Nuts over the Holidays? But why eat them with all the extra sugar and oil, when you can just as easily throw some raw nuts on a cookie sheet, coat them with a little bit of Grade B maple syrup, a pinch of salt, and toss them in the oven on 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes?
10. Tarts vs. Pies: The Holidays are all about sweet indulgences, so I don’t want to take those away from you. However, eating a tart will usually save you a vast amount of calories, sugar, and often belly-ache. Moreover, if you skip the crust altogether, you will be doing yourself even more of a favor.
See, not too bad, right? Just making a few simple substitutions will make a vast difference in how you feel during, and after this Holiday Season.
Stay tuned for more tips in my next blog where I will delve deeper into how you can eat sweet Guiltless Gourmet-style this Holiday Season. And check out my previous blogs, Your Guideto Lighter Choices this Holiday Season, and Pre-Holiday Eating: the Do’s andDon’ts, for even more great advice.
Enjoy!
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