With thanksgiving and Christmas round the corner, the time has arrived for family gatherings and food. This is the time to give thanks for the past year and appreciate the year that is coming to an end. The festive season is filled with loads of sweets, desserts and much fuller meals than at any other time of year. Unfortunately most traditional meals are filled with high amounts of sugar, fat and alcohol l which cause people to feel tired and lazy afterwards. Therefore why not take charge of this season and end the year with healthier versions of all your favorite meals? With just a few tweaks you will be able to have yourself a healthy, high vibe and yummy time!
1. Sugar.
Sugar is everywhere this time of year. Whether in cookies, cakes or sauces there’s no escaping this component. Alas sugar is what bacteria and parasites feed on, not to mention is the culprit for those mood swings and blood sugar imbalances. The good news is replacing sugar is easy thanks to plethora of alternatives found on the market today! Some great natural sugar alternatives include coconut sugar, coconut syrup, birch extracted xylitol, stevia or monk fruit powder.
2. Fat.
Fat is used in a variety of recipes to give flavour, enhance texture and richness to food. In the fat family we have oils, butter and dairy (full fat milk can range up to 80% of fat!). The lactose found in dairy milks and butter enhances mucus production and upsets our stomach (not to mention the bloating). Switching to non-dairy milks or creams and butter alternatives will not only make you feel lighter but will ease the digestion process.
Some great rich non-dairy milks that won’t compromise the taste in your desserts include cashew milk, almond milk or coconut milk (make sure the label states organic and sugar free). Traditional butter can be switch to organic palm or sunflower butter. However to keep your holiday high vibe try switching butter for coconut oil or avocado oil which are great high heat cooking oils and filled with plenty healthy fats! These easy changes won’t compromise the taste of traditional recipes and will keep everyone feeling their best (no more falling asleep right after eating 😅)
3. Alcohol.
Alcohol is known to have detrimental effects to both the physical body and the spiritual mind. Escaping this one at a holiday family or office party isn’t always easy as it is an integral part of the culture. However after a drink our spirituality takes a hit, our immunity decrease and our alertness is compromised. Thanks to the rise of demand for healthier alternatives, we now have access to new festive drinks that can easily replace alcohol!
Some great substitues include Kombucha, organic fizzy fermented juice drinks or sparkling water with cranberries, blueberries or a piece of lime.
Making these easy switches will help you and your friends and family have a high spirited and immune boosting holiday 🙂
