When it comes to healthy-eating during a holiday, it seems many of us have little willpower to resist those not-so-good for us foods.

Even when you’re wrapped up in the excitement of the holiday, I promise you it is possible to eat well.

If maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet seems like a challenge, here are a few tips I give my clients to stay healthy all through the celebration.

1. Drink Water 

 Not Only is water good for the body, it’s necessary for the brain, too! To figure out how much water you should be drinking, divide your body weight in half… that’s approximately how many ounces of water you should drink. And if you’re enjoying some holiday drinks, be sure to drink a glass of water between your libations.

If you’re looking to mix things up, sanz alcohol, try some of my favorites: Kombucha, coconut water, and flavored seltzer waters (with no added sugar). These can all be kicked up a notch with a splash of champagne or tequila – because sometimes you want to partake. 

2. Nosh on Veggies and Fruits

Over half of your plate (or more!) should consist of veggies. This will dramatically reduce the risk of chronic disease like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer & dementia.  

If you focus on the nutrients, you won’t have to focus on the calories! And don’t forget, Calories are not created equal, so focus on fueling your body with the right foods and worry less about the numbers.Think about it, 100 calories worth of watermelon will affect your body differently than a 100 calorie soda. 

Don’t Drink all your calories  

Juices, sangrias, margaritas and sweet teas can all be packed with crazy amounts of calories, food colorings and added sugars galore. These sugary concoctions have been shown to contribute to chronic diseases including cancer, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Opt for fresh pressed juices, plain teas (use stevia or natural fruit to sweeten your beverage), or sip slowly on a plain tequila or glass of wine.

Be a Great Guest

If you’re worried you won’t find enough healthy options at the table that will leave you feeling satisfied, bring something yourself! Bring a deliciously healthy side dish like this grain free, vegan and deliciously healthy Cake to Celebrate!

A Cake to Celebrate

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup arrowroot starch
• 1/4 cup protein powder (sub brown rice flour)
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• pinch of pink himalayan salt
• 3 ripe plantains
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup coconut butter
• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil (sub pumpkin puree for fat free)
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Frosting

Simple Frosting – For this cake, I would omit the spirulina and substitute peppermint for a plain or vanilla stevia!

amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit0”;
amzn_assoc_search_bar = “true”;
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “welldess-20”;
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”;
amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”;
amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”;
amzn_assoc_region = “US”;
amzn_assoc_title = “My Amazon Picks”;
amzn_assoc_linkid = “e37d30f393455914db51d010d97db2ec”;
amzn_assoc_asins = “B01N7DTD98,B008RJMXPQ,B003QDRJXY,B00OJ757SK”;

//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US

Directions

Like all of my recipes, this one is super simple to put together. Start by preheating your over to 330°F and lightly greasing your cake pan. I used a few smaller cake pans but a 9″x11″ should work just fine.

 Begin by sifting together all of your dry ingredients (or the first six ingredients).

Next you’ll blend together all of your remaining ingredients. Pour this “blender batter” into the dry ingredients and mix to combine.

Pour (or scoop! it’s a little thick) your batter into the greased cake pan. The batter should be about one and a half inches inside the pan (estimate). Now place this soon-to-be tasty treat in the oven and bake 25-30 minutes.

When finished, allow the cake(s) to cool on the counter for 45 min to an hour. Then frost your cake! For this I blended coconut butter, a little almond milk, and lemon juice (eye ball for your preferred consistency. I went ahead a sliced my cake in half to frost the center*, as well, because you can never have too much frosting!

So there you have it, a deliciously healthy Cake to Celebrate any day!