CHI Health Better You Blog NUTRITION Healthier Season’S Treatings: Delightful Desserts November 17, 2021 Author: Jordan Bontrager, RD Healthier Season’s Treatings: Delightful Desserts It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are upon us already! Family time, holiday caroling, and the season of giving- what could be better? There’s one other thing that frames the holiday season for many, and that’s food. Particularly, TONS of delicious desserts that are usually laden with sugar and calories. Overindulging on these treats can lead to that dreaded post-holiday weight gain and uncontrolled blood sugars. So, do we have to be a Scrooge and stay away from these gobble-worthy treats? Not necessarily! Reducing Your Holiday Dessert Calories Eat a sensible portion- most desserts, similar to meals in America, are super-sized. If there’s a holiday celebration at work and somebody brought a delicious cake, take a small piece and load the rest of your plate with nutrient-dense foods packed with protein and vegetables-mind what’s on the rest of your plate. If you’re the one making the dessert, try substituting not-so-healthy baking ingredients with healthier ones. For example: Use whole wheat or almond flour in place of all-purpose flour. Use Stevia or Splenda in place of cane sugar. You can try replacing butter with Greek yogurt. Keep in mind that measurements of these ingredients may differ, so do a search for conversions if needed. Greek yogurt can also be used as a base for frostings for some extra protein and less sugar. Add in some fresh cut-up fruit to a recipe for a nutrient boost. Snack on a healthy holiday party mix! Use a high-fiber cereal such as plain shredded wheat or Kashi Go Lean crunch. Add in some home-popped, lightly-salted popcorn, a few dark chocolate chips, and low-sugar dried cranberries to build a tasty yet healthy holly jolly mix. There is room to enjoy the holidays with yummy desserts as part of a healthy eating pattern. Treat yourself to these holiday treats occasionally in sensible portions, and try experimenting with different ways to make dessert recipes healthier! Want more health holiday eating tips? Check out our posts about appetizers and the main course! Share on Facebook Tweet Jordan Bontrager, RD Jordan Bontrager, MMN, RD, LMNT is a registered dietitian with CHI Health. She sees patients at Nebraska Endocrinology Specialists and at the Women’s Health clinic in Lincoln. She works with patients to come up with manageable ways to refine eating patterns and lifestyle habits in order to improve overall health. Jordan’s passion is to help others hone in on healthy habits so they can live their best lives. 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February 15, 2021 Leave a comment FAMILY HEALTHHEALTHY EATINGHEALTHY RECIPESWEIGHT MANAGEMENT Mindful Eating and the Holidays Karen Williams, LIMHP November 23, 2021 Healthier Season’s Treatings: The Main Course Ellen Thomsen, MS, RD, LMNT, CDE, IFNCP™ November 17, 2021 Healthier Season’s Treatings: Appetizers and Beverages Lauren Williams, RDN, LMNT, LD, CDCES November 17, 2021 Share Subscribe for Updates Name* Email* Stay Informed Categories Accelerated Nursing Program Advanced Directives Audiology Bereavement Brain Health/Neurology Cancer Care Community Benefit Coronavirus Dermatology Diabetes Care Ethics Farmers Market to Table Featured Gastroenterology Heart Health Kidney Health Lung Health Maternity Care Mental Health Nutrition Orthopedics Parenting Patient Stories Pediatrics Pharmacy Physical Therapy Recipes Rehabilitation Care Research Sports Medicine Weight Management Wellness Women's Health Previous Articles Previous Articles Select Month November 2021 (10) October 2021 (25) September 2021 (7) August 2021 (10) July 2021 (4) June 2021 (2) May 2021 (6) April 2021 (10) March 2021 (9) February 2021 (8) January 2021 (7) December 2020 (10) November 2020 (9) October 2020 (11) September 2020 (7) August 2020 (7) July 2020 (5) June 2020 (11) May 2020 (10) April 2020 (13) March 2020 (17) February 2020 (11) January 2020 (11) December 2019 (17) November 2019 (19) October 2019 (24) September 2019 (16) August 2019 (15) July 2019 (8) June 2019 (22) May 2019 (25) April 2019 (21) March 2019 (27) February 2019 (25) January 2019 (17) December 2018 (9) November 2018 (11) October 2018 (13) September 2018 (6) August 2018 (4) July 2018 (43) June 2018 (14) May 2018 (4) April 2018 (2) March 2018 (2) February 2018 (3) January 2018 (4) December 2017 (2) November 2017 (12) October 2017 (40) September 2017 (1) August 2017 (7) July 2017 (2) June 2017 (5) May 2017 (1) April 2017 (1) March 2017 (1) February 2017 (2) January 2017 (1) December 2016 (3) November 2016 (3) October 2016 (3) September 2016 (6) August 2016 (2) July 2016 (3) June 2016 (1) April 2016 (1) March 2016 (2) February 2016 (3) January 2016 (2) December 2015 (1) November 2015 (1) October 2015 (3) September 2015 (2) August 2015 (1) July 2015 (3) June 2015 (3) May 2015 (4) April 2015 (3) March 2015 (2) February 2015 (3) January 2015 (5) December 2014 (6) November 2014 (7) October 2014 (5) September 2014 (5) August 2014 (6) July 2014 (4) June 2014 (3) May 2014 (4) April 2014 (2) March 2014 (5) February 2014 (2) January 2014 (2) December 2013 (3) November 2013 (2) October 2013 (4) September 2013 (3) August 2013 (2) July 2013 (4) June 2013 (4) May 2013 (9) April 2013 (13) March 2013 (3) February 2013 (14) January 2013 (5) December 2012 (10) November 2012 (8) October 2012 (7) September 2012 (4) August 2012 (6) July 2012 (6) June 2012 (6) May 2012 (5) April 2012 (12) March 2012 (7) February 2012 (6) January 2012 (12) December 2011 (10) November 2011 (12) October 2011 (10) September 2011 (11) August 2011 (9) July 2011 (7) June 2011 (6) May 2011 (8) April 2011 (6) March 2011 (8) February 2011 (7) January 2011 (7) December 2010 (7) November 2010 (13) October 2010 (19) September 2010 (14) August 2010 (9) July 2010 (10) June 2010 (14) May 2010 (10) April 2010 (8) March 2010 (11) February 2010 (13) January 2010 (13) December 2009 (13) November 2009 (12) October 2009 (8) September 2009 (18) August 2009 (4) July 2009 (7) June 2009 (10) May 2009 (6) April 2009 (4) March 2009 (5) February 2009 (2) January 2009 (1) Suggest a Topic Tell us what you’d like to read more about Copyright ©2021 CHI Health CHIhealth.com | Contact Us | News Center | Privacy Notice | Suggest a Blog Topic For the latest updates from CHI Health regarding COVID-19, visit our information centerSee Latest Updates +