Post by Kimberly Wright
As the holidays are quickly approaching, people are busy preparing for the end of the year festivities. The holidays are meant to be a time for relaxation with family and friends, but they never turn out that way. From last minute shopping to preparing family meals, the holidays can become overwhelming. Yet, there is always time to get together with family and enjoy the holiday season by cooking and baking!
This season, try to put a healthy twist to those culinary festivities. Instead of dreading that “eat healthier” or “work out more” New Year resolution, start the holiday season making healthy dishes and desserts with family and friends. Working together in the kitchen can be a fun learning experience for the whole family while also creating memories that will last a lifetime. Easy alternatives to holiday treats are always a great place to start.
Baking your family’s favorite holiday goodies may not be the most nutritious, so create a new tradition that’s both delicious and wholesome. From swapping out your grandma’s famous pudding pie with an avocado-pudding filling, or even substituting white flour with wheat flour in your father’s favorite cookies, there are always different ways to improve the nutrition in your treats. You can even consider baking a brand new recipe that provides great flavor and benefits at the same time. For those of you wanting a sweet and crunchy candy, a holiday bark is a perfect recipe to try out. There are many variations of such desserts, but below is a recipe full of heart-healthy and antioxidant benefits, with under 130 calories per serving:
White Chocolate Holiday Bark
Ingredients
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
2. Spread the sliced almonds and the unsweetened coconut in an even layer on the baking sheet. Toast 5–8 minutes or until coconut just begins to brown. Remove baking sheet from the oven, and let cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine almonds, coconut, rice cereal, and dried cranberries. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the mixture, and set aside.
4. Place chopped white chocolate and 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a large heatproof bowl and set over a medium saucepan of simmering water. Stir with a spatula until the chocolate is completely melted.
5. Remove the chocolate from heat, and fold in the almond mixture. Spread mixture evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle on the reserved 1/4 cup topping. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate has completely set. Break the bark into small pieces, and serve.
As the holidays are quickly approaching, people are busy preparing for the end of the year festivities. The holidays are meant to be a time for relaxation with family and friends, but they never turn out that way. From last minute shopping to preparing family meals, the holidays can become overwhelming. Yet, there is always time to get together with family and enjoy the holiday season by cooking and baking!
This season, try to put a healthy twist to those culinary festivities. Instead of dreading that “eat healthier” or “work out more” New Year resolution, start the holiday season making healthy dishes and desserts with family and friends. Working together in the kitchen can be a fun learning experience for the whole family while also creating memories that will last a lifetime. Easy alternatives to holiday treats are always a great place to start.
Baking your family’s favorite holiday goodies may not be the most nutritious, so create a new tradition that’s both delicious and wholesome. From swapping out your grandma’s famous pudding pie with an avocado-pudding filling, or even substituting white flour with wheat flour in your father’s favorite cookies, there are always different ways to improve the nutrition in your treats. You can even consider baking a brand new recipe that provides great flavor and benefits at the same time. For those of you wanting a sweet and crunchy candy, a holiday bark is a perfect recipe to try out. There are many variations of such desserts, but below is a recipe full of heart-healthy and antioxidant benefits, with under 130 calories per serving:
White Chocolate Holiday Bark
Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1 cup oven-toasted rice cereal
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 1/2 pounds good-quality white chocolate, chopped
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
2. Spread the sliced almonds and the unsweetened coconut in an even layer on the baking sheet. Toast 5–8 minutes or until coconut just begins to brown. Remove baking sheet from the oven, and let cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine almonds, coconut, rice cereal, and dried cranberries. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the mixture, and set aside.
4. Place chopped white chocolate and 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a large heatproof bowl and set over a medium saucepan of simmering water. Stir with a spatula until the chocolate is completely melted.
5. Remove the chocolate from heat, and fold in the almond mixture. Spread mixture evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle on the reserved 1/4 cup topping. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate has completely set. Break the bark into small pieces, and serve.