It can be easy to overindulge around the holidays; luckily Cuisine for Healing has you covered by serving the healthiest version of the treats you crave. Even though we closed for a holiday break, you can still enjoy healthy treats by following our favorite tips for healthy baking.
Tip 1: Add some oats- Try recipes that substitute white flour for oat flour (you can make your own oat flour by blending oats for a few minutes). Oat flour is a whole grain food which makes it more nutritionally dense than white flour and just as affordable.
Tip 2: Skip the oil- Some fat is necessary for a healthy diet but it is so important not to overdo it; especially if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or a heart condition. There are plenty of ways to make your treats moist and delicious without adding extra fat. Try some sweet potato, banana, black beans or pumpkin instead.
Tip 3: Eliminate processed sugars- There are so many better alternatives for sweeteners besides those old fashioned rock hard sugar crystals. Instead, try adding fruit, honey, real maple syrup or dates. These natural sugar options can provide extra nutrients and aide in keeping your metabolism stable over time. This provides a better option than the “sugar crash” that takes place when you ingest its processed counterpart.
Tip 4: Try chia seeds or flax seeds- Flax seeds and chia seeds can help thicken puddings and bind pastries while offering a range of health benefits. Those benefits include helping to lower inflammation in the body to improving your gut health.
Tip 5: Add herbs or spice (they make everything nice)- For a flavor boost without adding extra sugar or salt; try adding some cinnamon or ginger to sweet treats or some rosemary, garlic or sage to savory ones. Herbs and spices offer a range of health benefits that include anti-inflammation, antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic properties just to name a few!
If you have trouble finding healthy recipes or ways to incorporate all these tips into your holiday baking, Cuisine has got you covered with our first ever cookbook! It is packed with delicious recipes that use whole foods and nutritious ingredients. We make eating healthy easy!
Resources:
- https://chear.ucsd.edu/blog/understanding-natural-versus-added-sugars
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/chia-seeds/
- Parikh M, Maddaford TG, Austria JA, Aliani M, Netticadan T, Pierce GN. Dietary Flaxseed as a Strategy for Improving Human Health. Nutrients. 2019 May 25;11(5):1171. doi: 10.3390/nu11051171. PMID: 31130604; PMCID: PMC6567199.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30651162/
