Healthier Holiday Cookie Swap
There is no denying it, holiday cookies are fun to make and to eat. It’s only once a year, so what’s the harm?
If you’re someone who can eat sugary treats in moderation and are engaged in regular exercise, I say there’s very little harm.
Unfortunately, I personally do not have control when it comes to such things and eat way too many. I remember doing a mini cookie swap with my neighbor in the past and I would come home and eat all of her cookies that same day.
As a result, I’ve learned to make healthier versions that still really do taste great.
The cookie swap topic came up when two of my clients (mother and daughter) said they each had to bake 8 dozen cookies this week, which they were then swapping with a group of friends so everyone ended up with a variety of each others’ cookies after the swap.
Aside from the obvious social aspect of the swap, I was informed that the purpose of the original swap was to share the cookies as gifts with neighbors, friends, and other family members. This sounded like a really nice idea, versus ending up with a variety of 96 cookies (8 dozen) all just waiting to be eaten.
Either way - whether the cookies get shared or you end up eating them all - doesn’t it make sense to have a few healthier options in the swap (as long as they still taste good and you’re not the person who shares the “bad cookies”)?
If there’s even the slightest chance of a yes to this question, here a few options to add to the cookie swap. They are not technically cookies (they’re muffins) but they do taste great and fit in really nicely with holiday cookies.
Orange Cranberry muffins (or mini breads)
Every small change we make in our holiday actions can create a small change in our overall health and wellness.
There will be some traditions you won’t want to compromise on and others you may be willing to be more open-minded about. Tiny shifts add up and sometimes we make the changes that others want but can’t quite make on their own just yet.
Happy Holidays to you, whichever decisions you make!