Don’t deny yourself treats!
Just make them yourself. And make them more healthy!
Don’t buy (literally) into the idea that gluten-free is necessarily better. It’s not.
This is especially important for people who do not have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
Not only are the gluten-free products usually more expensive, but they aren’t necessarily “healthful” and contain additives and chemicals. The same goes for “Lo-calorie”, “Low fat”, and “Lo-carb” variations.
Look for organic, unprocessed items. “One ingredient” items, shall we say. An organic banana is a perfect example.
Speaking of bananas, DID YOU KNOW you can use them as a substitute for oil/butter/margarine when you cook (and bake)?
If you are using a “fat” make sure it’s as close to pure as possible – no fake foods! And do not use olive oil or any other oils with low heating or “smoke” points. Use instead: grapeseed oil or avocado oil.
Another healthy substitute in place of oils is 1- 2C of raw, organic pumpkin:
I have also used flaxseed and chia seeds to supplement “fats” in dishes and baking but not as a sole substitute:
However, you could use them to replace the eggs in baking dishes that you want to make more vegan-friendly! They are good “binders” for your recipe.
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Or you could add ALL the things above as I did (and more) in my pumpkin bread recipe!!
In addition to using a starter mix, I added: a banana, pumpkin, chia seeds, flaxseeds and some grapeseed oil THEN kicked it up further by including: shredded carrots, dried cranberries, walnuts, rolled oats and cacao nibs. (Yep, all #organic )
What are some healthy substitutions or inclusions YOU use?
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Any Questions??
