It's holiday time and that means cookies, cakes, puddings and every sweet treat on the planet tempting us around every corner. It's unrealistic to not imbibe in sweet holiday cheer, but there are a couple of ways you can indulge without all the guilt or derailing all your hard work this year. One is to find products on market shelves that are indeed delicious, but are healthier versions of our favorite indulgences like typical chips, ice cream and cookies. I have a list of my favorite tasty products here. Another way is to make dessert in your own kitchen with some of these healthy ingredient swaps. Plus, by substituting certain ingredients, you can make your favorite treats gluten-free, paleo-friendly or vegan, depending on your dietary needs.
Instead of 1 cup of white flour, use:
- 1 cup pureed black beans in brownies
Instead of 1 cup of sugar, use:
- 1 cup of unsweetened apple sauce in almost anything, including oatmeal cookies
Instead of 1 cup of butter or oil, use:
- 1 cup of pureed avocado in chocolate cookies and brownies
Instead of 1 egg, use:
- 1 tbsp of chia seeds and 1 cup of water (let sit for 15 minutes) in muffins, cakes and cookies
Happy and healthy holidays to you and your family!