Keep the Memories Not the Pounds ~ Holiday Baking Tips
It’s that time of year again. Cool temperatures, warm fires, family gatherings and traditions, all of which usually revolve around big holiday feasts. According to a study by the National Institute of Health the average holiday weight gain from Thanksgiving to New Year’s is estimated to be between 1 to 5 pounds in American adults. This weight gain tends to have a cumulative effect, and people are unlikely to lose the weight between holiday seasons. Perhaps, one of our most ingrained habits when the temperature drops and the holiday decorations go up, is to start baking. We associate baking with gift giving, and family gatherings and the joy that all those things bring. But what if we have been working hard to lose weight this year and we want to maintain our weight loss? Or what if you just started your journey toward better health and you don’t want to self-sabotage the choices you have made to be healthy?
Here are some holiday baking tips:
Don’t be the Taste Tester: If you are making cookies, for example, it can feel nearly impossible not to taste test your work, or nibble at the batter while you wait. Instead of baking the cookies, find a mason jar and some festive ribbon. Put the dry ingredients in a jar in layers, attach a pretty sticker with the instructions for the wet ingredients, and include time and oven temperature. This way you are still passing on your special recipes, but it allows you to avoid nibbling on one or two cookies while you bake.
All-In-One Gifts: If you are known for your fudge or brownies, consider baking them into a pretty holiday pan that is made to give away. Put the entire recipe in the pan, so you won’t be tempted to cut a piece off for yourself. This trick also works well for pies and bread because it is very obvious if you have taken a slice.
Give Away The Whole Cake: Instead of making cupcakes (which can be so easy to taste “just one”), consider making an entire cake and giving the whole cake away. The recipient can still enjoy the fruits of your good efforts and perhaps share with a neighbor or a friend. If you tend to lick the spoon when making frosting, try to choose recipes that leave the frosting out all together.
Get Creative: There are actually a lot of healthier options these days for making desserts that aren’t full of refined sugars and flours. Look for recipes that give you a taste of something sweet but don’t sabotage all of your hard work. A quick google search will yield all kinds of results for healthier options.However, not all artificial sweeteners are equal. Products containing aspartame are not a good substitution as the aspartame breaks down leaving the wrong consistency and flavor. Gifting someone a healthier option may inspire them to make similar steps toward better health.
Timing is Everything: Bake after you have had a satisfying meal, not when you are hungry, or craving sweets. That way you won’t be tempted to nibble on what you are baking.
Steer Clear of Your Favorites: As tempting as it might be, try to avoid baking your favorite recipes. Bake something else that is not as great a temptation to you. This will make it easier to avoid nibbling as you bake, and keep you from indulging in some when you’re finished.
Celebrate Without Food: Remember, food is not the only way to celebrate the holidays! You can also go shopping, go look at holiday lights, watch holiday performances or movies, make holiday crafts, or volunteer at charity events. Keep yourself busy, so you do not have to turn to food for entertainment.
What is Your Why? It is always good to check in with yourself and consider why you like to bake during the holidays. Is it because you truly love it and are good at it? Or is it because you have other comfort associations to the holidays in general, or perhaps some of your happiest times as a child? If you truly love it, then use the tips above to help guide your generosity. If it has more to do with pleasant memories and time with friends and family, consider other ways to give and show love. Perhaps a recipe book complete with pictures and anecdotes to share with family and friends. This can be a fun way to share the warm, fuzzy feelings without the temptation the sweets themselves can bring.
It is a beautiful time of year, and giving to others is a beautiful aspect of the holidays, but don’t lose sight of all you are giving yourself by choosing to be the best and healthiest version of yourself you can be. The holidays will come and go, but the decisions you have made for a healthier life will carry you through the new year and many more years to come.
“Find new ways to celebrate without food.”