It’s the Holidays!
The music, the food, giving to others, and the visiting with friends and
family are all things I absolutely love about the season.
We are especially excited about the holidays this year with
Emma’s arrival.
Mom in particular, can’t
wait to dress her up in cute, but partially uncomfortable, outfits adorned with
beaded Christmas trees and let her sit on Santa’s lap so we can take her
picture (where she will most likely be screaming)!
Some of my clients really dread the holidays. They fear their weight will creep up as they
attend events with a decedent display of goodies. It doesn’t have to be that way! People can still enjoy family events, work
parties and baking without sacrificing their health and nutrition goals. As with anything, you must be smart,
determined and have a plan. A few quick
tips to help you navigate the holiday food frenzy and a recipe for my
Mother-in-law’s famous “Swedish Butter Horn” cookies made with Ultragrain® flour
are below.
Tips to Save You
from Dreaded Weight Gain this Holiday Season:
1.
Never attend
an event hungry. NEVER! If you do, you’ll be much more likely to
overindulge in foods that aren’t consistent with your goals.
2.
Fill Up On
a powerful protein / fiber combo before you arrive! These two key nutrition superstars will help
you curb cravings and keep you to just one plate at the buffet. For protein, a 3oz portion of meat, meat substitute,
chicken or fish or even some low-fat dairy like Greek yogurt is a perfect
amount to keep you satisfied. Pair your
protein with some vegetables and fruit and you’ll be feeling full and making
good decisions all night long!
3.
Bring
your favorite healthy dish! You can
fill up on something you know and trust prior to hitting the cookie tray. This will help you keep your portion sizes in
check.
4.
Don’t
skip your must-have’s! If your Aunt
Suzie only makes her famous red velvet cake once a year, make sure you
partake! Just be sure to only have one
slice of her wonderful treat, not three.
Research has shown that the pleasure centers in our brain that are
activated when we have desserts are at their peak after only a few bites. After that time, no additional satisfaction
is achieved with additional intake. You
can enjoy the right portion size and not feel a bit guilty. Savor those first bites, have a reasonable serving
and then put the fork down and move on.
I hope everyone adds some healthy whole grain nutrition to
their favorite cookies this year with Ultragrain®! It feels good to know you’re getting (and
giving on your cookie tray) fiber, antioxidants and nutrients with the same
taste and texture you already love. Have
a great Holiday and give the recipe below a try! These cookies will NOT disappoint!
“Swedish Butter Horns”
Dough:
1 cup Crisco.
½ cup sugar
4 cups Ultragrain® All Purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
2 packages dry active yeast
1 cup warm milk
2 beaten eggs
Blend the first four ingredients together as you would pie
dough (pie cutter or fork).
Dissolve the dry yeast in the WARM (not hot) milk and add to beaten eggs, then stir. Add to dry ingredients, stirring only until
the flour is absorbed. Cover with a damp
cloth and refrigerate at least four hours or overnight.
Filling:
¾ cup margarine (1 and ½ stick)
1 ½ cup sugar
1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Blend the four ingredients together (briefly microwave the
filling to make it easier to spread on the dough. It should be a pasty consistency).
Take cooled dough (about the size of a tennis ball) and roll it into a circle on a floured surface. Slice the dough like the spokes of a wheel into twelve identical pieces. Spread some filling on each piece (don’t be afraid to use your fingers) and roll from the wide end to make a croissant. Place on a cookie sheet and let rise for about 20 minutes. Bake at 350°F (10-15 minutes) until the tops of the cookies are turning lightly brown. Remove and cool on wire racks. While cooking, drizzle with mixture of powdered sugar and milk. Sprinkle with finely chopped nuts.
TIPS:
·
Make sure you put a sheet of foil under the wire
racks while drizzling as it’s a bit messy!
·
Save the residual nuts and frosting for the
oatmeal in the morning.
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