The Holidays can be a dreaded time for the aspiring individual looking to stay in shape or lose that extra weight. Here are a few healthier alternatives of your favorite holiday classics from my recipe book.
1. Pure Pumpkin Pie
(vegan, makes 1 pie)
Pumpkin pie is more than just a classic holiday dessert. It is
actually one of the lowest holiday desserts in both sugar and saturated fat.
15 oz canned organic Pumpkin Pie Mix or
Fresh 1/2 raw - fresh pumpkin puree option…
28 ounces (3 1/2 cups) pure canned pumpkin (or equivalent fresh pumpkin
puree)
Pumpkin Puree Recipe I found here.
1 1/4 cups cane sugar or agave
1 Tbsp pie Spice mix (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves)
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp lemon or orange juice (optional - adds a slight zippy undertone)
2 Tsp cinnamon
2 Tsp nutmeg
1 premade pie crust(vegan crusts available)
Begin by mixing all the ingredients in a food processor until evenly blended. Then scoop or pour the mix into your premade pie crust, and smooth the filling over evenly. Preheat your oven to 375. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Cool. Place in fridge to firm before serving.
Serving suggestion: Drizzle with warm maple syrup and/or add a swirl of vegan soy or rice whipped cream. OR add a scoop of vanilla Coconut Bliss vegan ice cream. yum!
Now everybody has their own recipe, but it still stands as the healthiest contender at you family dessert table.
2. Rice Pudding Supreme
This is another dessert that has some substance with the sweet. The only difference is you can make this one yourself in less than an hour.
3 cups cooked organic brown rice
1 cup organic rice milk
1/2 organic coconut milk
1/4 cup raisins
handful of granola (store bought or home-made)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
You can also take it to another level of healthy by using brown rice, raw honey or agave, and rice milk instead of dairy. Just use one cup of rice to two cups of boiling water, then turnout he water to simmer, and cook for 10 minutes or until cooked (45 minutes for brown rice). Then add a cup of milk, agave or honey, and sea salt / cinnamon to taste.
3. Holiday Fruit Pizza
This is an easy and simple dessert that is as healthy as it is delicious.
1 Premade Pizza crust (dough) gluten free optional
3 cups of your two favorite berries of choice
1/4 cup of organic honey or agave
1 pint coconut ice cream (optional)
Just get a pre-made pizza crust (dough), roll it out, and cut it with a cookie cutter or a knife to cut it into even pieces. Then cut up your favorite fruit, place it on top, and place it on a baking sheet in the oven. Just follow the directions of the crust you bought and drizzle honey or agave on the top. Serve with a non dairy ice cream, and enjoy!
4. Fresh Fruit Pie
Fruit Pie is another classic holiday dessert that can be made healthy and easy.
1 pre-made pie crust
5-6 cups of fresh fruit, such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, apples, etc. (if not using small berries, slice the fruit into bite-sized pieces)
3/4 cup pitted dates, soaked in water for a few minutes
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
1) Place 2 cups of the fruit, the dates, and lemon juice into a blender or food processor. Blend to a smooth puree.
2) Pour puree over the remaining fruit in a bowl, mix well, and add to the pie crust, spreading it around evenly with a spatula. You can eat the pie right away, or refrigerate for a few hours.
The final dish is a delicious, healthy treat — and you won't even have worked up a sweat.
Just heat one cup of water, add the jam, and throw in the fresh fruit. Stir on medium heat for 5 minutes, pour into pie crust, and place in oven to cook for however long your pie crust directions instruct.
5. Holiday Parfait
An easy seasonal twist on a classic healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner snack. It's as easy as a cup of organic yogurt, fresh fruit of choice, and granola of choice.
3 cups cooked organic brown rice
1 cup organic rice milk
1/2 organic coconut milk
1/4 cup raisins
handful of granola (store bought or home-made)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Layer them on top each the and add a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon over the yogurt of each layer as you fill your glass or bowl.
6. Superfruit Salad
Another timeless classic that is a staple of every holiday feast. It's all about the fruit. There are so many types of fruit available today, and many are considered super foods.
The recipe is for 1-2 servings. Simply increase the amounts to make more.
Get This:
• Apples or pears
• Fresh apricots and/or berries
• Goji berries
• Golden berries
• Chia seeds
• Cinnamon
• Organic honey
• One or two of the following: hemp seeds, cashews, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds
• Nut milk. Refer to my nut milk recipe for homemade goodness.
Do This:
• Slice up 1 apple or bear pear in bit size pieces
• Add 1 cup berries of your choice
• Add 2 apricots sliced and pitted
• Add a small to medium handful goji berries and golden berries
• Spring with 3 tbsp chia seeds
• Sprinkle cinnamon all over
• Add a small drizzle of your favorite nuts or seeds (ie: walnuts and sunflower seeds)
• Mix and stir everything into a bowl
• Pour a cup of nut, coconut, or rice milk on top and stir again
• Drizzle organic honey on top
• Let it chill for 10 minutes
• Stir and eat!
I recommend getting all your ingredients from the Farmer's Market so it's super fresh and local. However, don't let that stop you. You can also go to any health food store. I've been using apples, but you can definitely use pears too - you choose! Get creative, this is a the easiest dessert of all!
Holiday breaks mean going back home to see family for many, and this is a great opportunity to share these recipes ahead of time so some of these healthier alternatives can be explored and even substituted for the old version. Share the wealth of a new alternative to decadent desserts for the holiday season!
Happy Holidays!
-Micah Skye
