The holiday season is filled with indulgence and feasting, but it doesn’t have to derail your healthy eating habits. By making some smart food swaps, you can enjoy the festivities without compromising your well-being. It’s not about depriving yourself, it’s about choosing better ingredients so you can live healthy and happy. Here are some delicious alternatives to traditional holiday sweets:
1. Cacao instead of hot chocolate
– Cacao is an anti-inflammatory food and supports gut health. Hot chocolate is filled with refined sugar which leads to decreased mental health and increased disease. Swap hot chocolate for cacao and still enjoy the warm, sweet drink.
2. Coconut sugar instead of white sugar
– Refined sugar leads to inflammation in the body which then leads to anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, and more. Coconut sugar is a plant-based alternative that can replace white refined sugar.
3. Simple Mills Cake Mix
– The first two ingredients in Pillsbury chocolate cupcake mix are enriched bleached flour and refined sugar. These two ingredients lead to inflammation in the body and throw off our gut and hormones, leading to all kinds of negative side effects.
It also includes calcium phosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, and vegetable oil, all of which increase mental health conditions.
It is colored with red 40, yellow 5, and blue 1, ingredients which are BANNED in other countries.
We can still enjoy treats while not putting harmful ingredients in our body. Simple Mills cupcake mix is my favorite. They have clean and no harmful ingredients.
4. Cookie Dough
– The first two ingredients in Nestle cookie dough are bleached white flour and refined sugar. These two ingredients lead to inflammation in the body and throw off our gut and hormones, leading to all kinds of negative side effects.
It also includes “natural flavors,” sodium aluminum phosphate, and vegetable oil, all of which increase mental health conditions.
Sweet Loren’s is my go to. I don’t have time to make my own cookie dough so these are perfect pre-made squares of cookie dough!
5. Whole Wheat or Gluten-Free Flour
– White flour is a big inflammatory food. Avoid negative symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and more by swapping it for a whole wheat or gluten-free flour.
By making these simple yet impactful food swaps, you can create a holiday feast that is not only delicious but also mindful of your health. Enjoy the season without the guilt, and savor the joy of good food and good company. Cheers to a healthy and happy holiday season!
For more support with food swaps or food in general, you can schedule a free session here.
