GET FREE SAMPLES

sign up for our newsletter to get free sample alerts

6 Healthy Swaps for Your Favorite Treats

Eating your feelings in good times more than bad? Reach for these healthier swaps instead of your celebratory treats
Photo 5/7
Ice Cream
If you're craving this frozen dessert, Gibson suggests making a homemade sorbet instead, by processing 2 cups of frozen berries of choice in a blender with 1 cup of filtered water, 2 tbsp. of flax oil or coconut oil, 1/4 cup of a berry blend antioxidant powder (optional) and 1/4 cup of walnuts or pecans. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, lemon extract, ground ginger or cinnamon to give your dessert more flavor, then pour into ice-cream cups and freeze.

For a chocolate craving, Gibson suggests making a health-packed chocolate mousse by blending the following together in a food processor: 3 ripe avocados, 10 soaked and pitted dates, 1 cup raw cacao powder, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, and depending on the sweetness you prefer, either 1/2 cup maple syrup or 1/3 cup honey, or no sweetener at all. To loosen consistency, add almond, hemp or coconut milk as needed, then refrigerate or freeze and enjoy!

Photo 6/7
Cake and Cupcakes
Instead of bringing another store-bought cake for the next office birthday or at-home party, try baking your own. Why? According to both Elkaim and Gibson, small substitutions throughout traditional recipes can make all the difference and allow you to indulge on these treats instead of giving them up entirely. If you're going to ditch one ingredient, you'll want to make it sugar. "Instead of using sugar for sweetness (which sends your blood sugar soaring) try using stevia instead. Stevia has no impact on your blood sugar and thus is much better for diabetics (and pretty much everyone)," says Elkaim. Keep this in mind all the way through to the final touches. "For cakes and cupcakes, make a frosting with coconut oil instead of shortening and coconut sugar instead of regular sugar," Gibson suggests. "Add a little extra vanilla, almond, or hazelnut extract for a unique flavor and sweetness."

Photo 7/7
Cocktails and Champagne
When it comes to celebrating, a few good toasts are in store. But after the first round, it can get harder to keep track of all the calories you're quickly consuming ... especially because it's in liquid form. Just one glass of champagne (around 4.1 fl. oz.) has 91 calories. Instead of working your way up to an entire bottle of bubbly (which rings in at about 500 calories), Gibson suggests stepping on the breaks with Kombucha, Jun, or Water Kefir. "They're all tart, bubbly, and only mildly alcoholic celebratory drinks, with probiotics to boot."

If you're clinking margaritas instead of champagne flutes, you run the risk of drinking anywhere between 200 to upwards of 500 calories, depending on the size of drink. When you're out, skip the salt and stick to sipping tequila over ice with a splash of soda throughout the night; if you're having the festivities at home, swap pre-made margarita mix with diet limeade or fresh-squeezed citrus fruits.

DEC 23, 2014 | SHARES
VIEW COMMENTS
Full Site | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
TotalBeauty is a property of Evolve Media Holdings, LLC. © 2024 All Rights Reserved. | Affiliate Disclosure: Evolve Media Holdings, LLC, and its owned and operated subsidiaries may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links.