6 Tips for Healthy Holiday Baking
I’m all for (consciously) indulging in your favorite holiday treat! But it’s also fun to play around in the kitchen with swaps to make your favorite desserts lighter, more nutritious, and/or suitable for those with dietary restrictions.
Here are some tips & tricks:
1. Replace eggs with a flax or chia “egg” to make a recipe egg-free or vegan. Stir together 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed or whole chia seeds and 2.5 Tbsp of water, let sit for 5 minutes, then use in a recipe (Note: This doesn’t bind or stiffen exactly like eggs, but flax or chia “eggs” can be used in many recipes like muffins, cookies, or pancakes)
2. Cut the amount of butter, shortening or oil in a recipe by half and use equal amounts of unsweetened applesauce (e.g. if a recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, use 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup applesauce)
3. Use non-dairy spreads or coconut oil instead of butter or ghee to make a recipe dairy-free or vegan
4. Cut the amount of cream cheese in a recipe by half and use equal amounts of plain nonfat skyr or Greek yogurt
5. Instead of 1 cup of buttermilk, use 2/3 cup plain nonfat skyr or Greek yogurt and 1/3 cup milk
6. Many recipes taste just as good with less sugar. Start small by reducing the amount of sugar in a recipe by a quarter (e.g. instead of 1 cup of sugar, use 3/4 cup), and next time try reducing by half (e.g. from 1 cup to 1/2 cup)
By Rachelle LaCroix Mallik, MA, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian and Owner of The Food Therapist, LLC
For more healthy eating inspiration, follow Rachelle at The Food Therapist!
Questions? Send me an email at rachelle@rachellemallik.com.
Rachelle LaCroix Mallik, MA, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian and owner of The Food Therapist, LLC, a private nutrition counseling practice based in Chicago. Rachelle specializes in reproductive nutrition for fertility, prenatal, and postnatal wellness. She earned a Bachelor’s with Honors in Human Nutrition at Arizona State University and a Master’s in Food Studies – Food Culture at New York University. Rachelle is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Women’s Health Dietetic Practice Group, and she serves on the board of the Academy’s Chicago chapter.
Rachelle lives in Lakeview with her husband Ronak, baby boy Arjuna, and adopted pup Lola. She’s also a Bolly Groover – it’s her favorite form of cardio!
Visit her at rachellemallik.com or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @rachellemallik.