Gold Coast PCYC would like to wish you a Happy Holiday Season and would like to offer you some Healthy Christmas Food tips to stop your hard work in the Gym from going to waste or the waist. Christmas is a time when we think of family
get-togethers and abundance. It is memory lane for most of us, enjoying
friends, memorable times and good comfort, traditional foods. But the weeks
after the holidays are usually weight gains, health problems from too many
sweets and food.
Today white sugar, white flour, dairy
products, trans and saturated fats, refined cars and excess calories are on the
“no-no” list … and with the holiday times it feels as if the cakes, cookies and
candies will become obsolete. And we begin to feel deprived and panic stricken.
After all, it is a long-time tradition.
One answer is to make some raw food
desserts and take them to get-togethers and family meals. Use nuts, dried
fruits, and avocados instead of white flour and white sugar. They have a lot
of flavor, looks and are good for you. Oh yes … and they are easy to put
together. Jenny Cornbleet has a book out
called “Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People”. In it there are desserts –
cakes, cookies, fruit crisps, pies, tarts, puddings, mousses, shakes, and ice
cream recipes all raw – for holidays and all meals. Guess what?
They taste better than their sugar laden counterparts.
One recipe is for a “Flourless Chocolate
Cake with Raspberry Sauce” which calls for 1 ½ cups raw walnuts, dash of salt,
8 pitted dates, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa or carob powder, ½ tsp vanilla
extract, and 2 tsp water. For the
raspberry sauce you use 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (thaw and drain if
frozen) with ¼ cup pitted dates, soaked for 30 minutes and
drained. Place the walnuts and salt in a
food processor with the S blade and process until finely ground. Add dates,
cocoa powder, and vanilla … process until mixture becomes sticky. Add water and
process briefly. Transfer to a serving
plate and form a 5 inch round cake. Place the raspberries and dates in a
blender and mix until smooth, pouring over the cake just before serving.
You do not have to give up all your comfort foods, just find a healthier recipe for it. You will find the dessert to be much tastier. But should you choose to nibble on a few old foods, do so in moderation, do not go overboard, and remember to wait and let your stomach digest properly before the next meal.
