First Ever Guest Post!!!!

Hey everyone!!!!!

Ann Claire over from  http://theflourishingfoodie.wordpress.com/ wrote an awesome guest post and here it is:

Hey Everyone!

Ann Claire here from http://http://theflourishingfoodie.wordpress.com/. Thanks for letting me do a guest post Gen!

In general, healthy eating and the holiday season go together about as well as chocolate and broccoli. While only a very small percentage of people might enjoy chocolate and broccoli (ew!), it is entirely possible for everyone to eat healthfully during the holiday season. Of course, there's absolutely no reason not to enjoy your favorite holiday treats. Thanksgiving without pie? Christmas without cookies? Umm… no thanks!

I strongly encourage you to eat your favorite foods and enjoy them too. Food is a very social thing and many memories are associated with yummy foods. It is my personal belief, that it is impossible to be totally healthy and eat a perfect diet. I mean no one wants to never eat dessert or never eat what their friends are eating. That would be totally not fun! That being said, I'm not saying you should throw all healthy eating habits out the window. Absolutely not! So, here are 5 healthy holiday tips.

1.      Be sure to eat lots of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and other healthy things when you are at home to make up for when you indulge a bit much when you’re out.

2. Hydration, hydration, hydration. It's easy to stay hydrated in the summer when it's hot and you feel thirsty often, but when the cold weather hits we often forget about drinking water. Be sure to drink plenty of water. I suggest carrying a reusable water bottle around.

3. If invited to a Christmas gathering, offer to bring a dish. That way you can take something that you enjoy and know what's in it. Take something healthy, don't tell anyone and after they rave about how great it is you can mention how healthy it is :).

4. Don't stress! So you eat like 10 cookies in 1 sitting because they're your favorite cookie ever and you love them so much. Don't worry! Overindulging once doesn't ruin all your healthy habits. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.

5. Make healthier suggestions of your favorite recipes. Of course, sometimes you need to have the real thing, but often it is entirely possible to make a recipe healthier without sacrificing any flavor.

                    Such as my 5 minutes vegan chocolate fudge

                                      



1 cup extra dark chocolate chips*

1/3 cup plus a splash of coconut milk (full fat)

A shy 1/4 cup peanut butter (about 1/6th a cup)

1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients together in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Continue to to microwave and stir for 15-30 second intervals until everything if fully melted. Pour in a small foil lined pan. Put in the fridge to harden for about an hour. Cut into squares and enjoy!

*depending on the chocolate you use the recipe may or may not be totally vegan

*doubled this recipe would fit well into an 8x8 pan

Or how about some yummy chocolate chip cookies?



Have a very Merry Christmas!

~Ann Claire

Thanks Ann Claire!!!!

Does anyone else have any heathy eating over the holidays tips????