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Holiday Helpings!

This may sound like a challenge, but you can enjoy delicious food this holiday without restricting  yourself (or indulging for that matter!). It is not about dieting and sitting across the table wishing you can eat something that you told yourself you couldn’t. It is about taking control. Make the right choices this year, because you can treat your holiday however you want!

Maybe this year, you offer to make some of the side dishes, desserts or goodies. Or at least have something small with you to nibble on that is healthy and tasty. You never want to be left without options that don’t suit your goals or your taste buds! You don’t have to give in to the 4-5 course rich and heavy meals and all the holiday candies, sweets, desserts that may be delivered to our door or are laying on your table. If you have to go for that “once-a-year” something, then treat yourself to a small piece and enjoy every bite. You never want to approach the holidays dreading the amount of food you are going to eat…just approach it with peace and let yourself know that you can still enjoy the holidays without guilt.

Here are a few more helpful tips:

If dinner is not at your house – have a small meal before you go (vegetable juice, smoothie, bowl of soup, veggies and hummus with crackers)

Bring a  flavourful and colourful holiday dish with you ( Citrus Wild Rice, Apricot Muffins, Quinoa with Porcini, Green Veggie Soup, Yam Pecan Tart)

Load up on veggies - if there is a salad or steamed veggies available – double your dose of them and leave only a small space on the plate for other things.

Wait before you have dessert - sip on herbal tea, let your tummy digest dinner before you indulge in dessert. Or better yet bring your own healthy and guilt free dessert – Ginger Date Cookies!

Get to the gym or go for a long walk - you will feel better  knowing that you can burn off some of those (extra) calories (even if you did cheat a little!)

Sip on wine if you must – watch the eggnog, beer and other rich holiday drinks. These all have calories that can add up!

Make time for bonding – have after dinner activities that are fun and keep you away from all-night nibbling!

Approaching the holiday dreading the amount of food you’re going to eat is no fun. So take control this year and give yourself the gift of eating good food, in moderation. If you must give in, to that second helping – do it with gratitude and pleasure not with guilt and disappointment. The only one who will be left upset in the end is you!

Date Ginger Coconut Cookies

 

 

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups spelt, kamut or oat flour

2 cups rolled oats

2 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 ½ tsp baking soda

1 cup chopped pitted dates (I like Medjool)

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup maple syrup or coconut nectar

¾ cup coconut oil

1-2 tsp grated ginger

zest of organic lemon or orange

1 tsp pure vanilla

 

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper
3. Whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in large bowl.
4. In a separate bowl add in dates and coconut and stir to combine. Add the syrup, oil, ginger and zest and vanilla and mix just until all flour is absorbed.
5. Drop heaping tablespoons or large scoops of the dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them out evenly.
6. Bake for about 12 minutes, until golden brown.
7. Allow to cool on a baking rack for a few minutes and enjoy!

Comments

2 Responses to “Holiday Helpings!”

1. Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says:

   December 1, 2010 at 4:56 pm

   What’s coconut nectar?

   Reply
   • Marni Wasserman says:

     December 2, 2010 at 7:42 pm

     It’s like agave or honey – but made from coconut. Totally low glycemic, gluten free and delicious! You can get it from Upaya http://www.upayanaturals.com/?Click=3732

     Reply