Healthy holiday baking?

Question

I love baking for the holidays...I make cookies/brownies/cupcakes for everyone. But, it seems that these days so many people are watching their weight and I want to be supportive of that...so, I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas of healthy and delicious treats I can make this year instead? I'd really appreciate any ideas/recipes! Thanks!

For most people these baked gifts are an addition to a purchased gift, not the only thing they get. I don't know where you are from, but where I live, exchanging food is perfectly acceptable and appreciated- it's something I enjoy doing and something that my friends/family enjoy getting. If I was looking for alternative gift ideas, I would have asked for them.

Answer 1

This is a nice gesture. Might I suggest that instead of freaking yourself out making everything fit someone's diet, that you do non-food presents instead? One person's health food is on another person's no-no list. You might serve potatos, for example, plain with no butter or salt, and a host of alternative spices that taste wonderful, thinking this is considerate but to a large number of dieters, the potato is the problem. It can get frustrating to help a lot of people eat well at one time.

My advice is for general gift giving, do spa treats or a small crafty project...all if you like the idea of homemade gifts that come from the heart.

If you are entertaining with a full meal, you can always serve the regular stuff in addition to plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Side salad, carrot and celery tray with lowfat ranch, fruit tray, make a lean meat main dish, maybe a meatless alternative, easy on the dairy and carbs, desserts on the lighter side such as sherbet, sorbet, or fruit. You can always do something like a build your own buffet for a meal...choosing a theme like tacos, pizzas, or subs, or whatever, or a fondue, or a stirfry, offering a wide variety of toppings, and let people do their own thing.

A brunch with lots of fruit, fruit juices, and build your own omelet, sugar free cocoa, low fat muffins might be a good meal choice for holiday entertaining. It is the fellowship that counts in the end, and with so many evening events, a brunch might be a welcome get together.

Some holiday treats that are borderline healthy?? Caramel apples, rice krispie treats, quick breads and muffins, carrot cake, zucchini bread, cranberry salad. Sugared fruit pieces. For drinks, choose a fruit juice bar or punch, or fancy mineral waters, hot mulled cider, all instead of eggnog, booze, or soda. Pumpkin and squash are very autumnal and festive and easy to prepare. Try pumpkin soup.

When you are baking sweets, you can switch and swap some ingredients to be more health conscious...You can use sweetners in place of sugar, applesauce in place of oil in some recipes, carob instead of chocolate, you can use whole grain flour, or for your gluten free friends, you can experiment with different grains of flour instead of wheat. Sweet potatos are supposed to be healthier than regular potatos, if you prepare them without all the syrupy stuff. You can also skip heavy dairy products in favor of low fat varieties, including cheeses. Lean meats. Healthy cooking methods. Serving lighter broth-based soups and sauces instead of heavy gravies and stews.

My biggest suggestion if you have a particular loved one is to ask them what they are allowed and not allowed to eat, and what they LOVE/miss from their old eating habits, and then, starting with their fav recipes, try to tweak them into something they are allowed to eat. But I wouldn't bend over backwards to be this accommodating to more than one or two people.

You can always use organic ingredients, you can serve fair trade coffee, you can skip the caffeinated drinks in favor of tea. There is a fancy tea drink called bubble tea...its got goodies in the bottom. It seems like it would be decadent enough for holidays.

To make anything better, always choose fresh over frozen, canned and make it yourself rather than getting a convenience mix or an instant product.

Another idea for your finicky eater friends (and I say that with all due respect because I am starting to watch what I eat this year too) is to get together and buy all the decadent food, prepare it on a night when you have agreed to host a meal at a smallish shelter, such as a battered women's shelter, not a huge soup kitchen. You can pull all the stops with over the top food and gooey desserts, and serve it together to people who will really appreciate your kindness.

Answer 2

It is a great time to bake cobblers and pies, fruit is in season from peaches to berries, and apples. Try not using sugar or adding sugar and experiment with whole grain crusts. It also is a great time to bake the Marriott and other types of bread. What a wonderful hobby.

Answer 3

You can make up plates of fruit rather than cookies. Other than that, don't worry about someone else's inability to turn down a plate of cookies. I still make cookies for my friends/family/co-workers, and if they're complaining that they're on a diet, I simply say, "Well, then just have one cookie, rather than eight!" I know many people that have to be on a diet because they don't have the self-control otherwise... Don't let that ruin your good times baking!

Answer 4

You could try "www.recipegoldmine.com" and see if they have any ideas, they have 1000's of recipes. OR try a diabetic website for baking recipes. I know there are recipes that use apple juice as the sugar but I don't have any myself.
Hope this helps!

Answer 5

cooking - - - presents
bad Idea.
send gift cards to the pastry shop or delli
Hey I have never had a bad reply to my Home Depot Gift cards or the local nursery.