Alternative Christmas Foods

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 avocadoes 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 cups raw walnuts, dash of salt, 8 pitted medjool dates, cup unsweetened cocoa or carob powder, 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 cup pitted medjooy 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.

Note from Wayne: Uri products incorporate an abundance of live, organic raw foods into their superfoods whole-foods drinks line. I encourage you to give them a try ... especially "The Feast". The Feast is rich with many nutrient-dense live whole foods. Even the hard-core red meat eater can drink this, and truly enjoy it. The Feast actually tastes good which is extremely rare for a "green" drink superfood. I hope you enjoyed this article here at www.green-drinks.com.