Author: Carolyn Negley, RD

Make the holidays more delicious

With the holiday season in full swing, you may be wondering how to enjoy all the fun and merriment while still honoring your health. Here are some tasty ideas from The Kitchen at Second Harvest, where we specialize in pairing health and fun!

• Move over casseroles…roasted veggies are here to stay! Roast your turnips, carrots and Brussels sprouts drizzled with balsamic vinegar for flavor that pops. For a little protein and crunch, add toasted pepitas, chopped pecans or your nut of choice. A sprinkling of Parmesan, feta or goat cheese will also elevate this humble dish. Leftovers? Yes, please! Roasted veggies make the perfect filler for an egg scramble, or enjoy them warm or cold on a salad.
• Wanna make a lot of latkes? Try baking them. Using less oil will leave you feeling lighter and make cleanup a breeze. For variation, try zucchini, squash or sweet potato instead of the classic white potato. Each provides unique nutritional benefits, helping you to eat a rainbow of colors throughout the day.
• Remember all those frozen bananas you have in your freezer, just in case? Mash ‘em up and use them instead of oil or butter in your breads, cakes, cookies and muffins. Applesauce is a great substitute too!
• “Make half your grains whole” is a modern health mantra that we stand by. Try using whole-wheat flour for half of the flour in your recipe. Nine times out of 10, this will taste great, and your guests will gobble up your treats without thinking twice. The added fiber in whole-wheat flour helps keep your digestive system happy.
• For another fiber boost, try “flax eggs” in your baking. Just combine one tablespoon ground flax seeds with three tablespoons hot water and let sit for five minutes. Voila! You’ve got yourself a great, gelatinous binder for muffins or even meatloaf.
• Did you know you can bake without flour? Black beans and lentils can sub in for an increase in protein, which keeps you feeling fuller longer. Check out The Kitchen website for recipes like our black bean brownies.
• Put on some music and get movin’. It’s hard to sit still during “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Family dance parties will help keep the fun going.

Happy holidays from The Kitchen at Second Harvest. We’re grateful to have the honor of serving your community by teaching confidence in the kitchen, sharing nutritious recipes, and spending time together learning from each other and growing. We look forward to a wonderful new year with our clients, donors and sponsors. It’s been said that there can be too many cooks in the kitchen, but we’ve never found that to be true. We can’t wait to cook with you soon!