Raintree Village December 2017

a long time and express yourself as much as
you want. After all, it’s the holidays, a period
of celebration.
6. Go see some holiday lights. If you have
nothing better to do, go to your nearest festival
to look at the beautiful holiday lights.
During the nighttime, let yourself be mesmerized
by the illuminating lights wrapped
around trees and ornaments.
7. Watch some holiday movies. What better
way to get into the holiday spirit than by
watching the classics? If movies don’t cut it
or you simply don’t have the time, take a few
minutes to watch some holiday videos. There
are plenty online that will lift your mood and
get you all pepped up for the holidays!
8. Eat seasonal food (with healthy ingredients!)
Bake holiday cookies shaped like turkeys,
Christmas trees, Santa, elves, presents,
anything! After all, a baker’s imagination
is endless. If you want to be fancier, cook
some holiday food that your parents used
to make you.
9. Gift kindness, in all forms. It has become
a tradition to buy presents and gift them to
your loved ones during the holiday season.
The holidays are a time of appreciation and
love. Don’t forget about those random acts of
kindness to whomever, just because.
10. Have fun! It’s alright if everything isn’t
perfect and in fact, that just proves you’re
human. In a couple of years, you’ll all be
laughing about disastrous moments during
the holiday season and it’ll all be fine!
Courtesy of: www.theodysseyonline.com/10-
ways-get-into-the-holiday-spirit
HEALTHIER INGREDIENTS FOR A HEALTHIER HOLIDAY
You can make trouble-free recipe substitutions that will not sacrifice the flavor, but will result
in a healthier recipe outcome. Check out these healthier holiday ingredient alternatives:
Instead of sour cream or cream cheese, try: Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt makes a wonderful protein-packed creamy substitution in a variety of dishes
and sweet treats. Dips, salad dressings, creamy casseroles and cheesecake recipes are just
a few recipes to try. For best results choose the plain Greek yogurt variety.
Instead of bread crumbs, try: Coconut flour
Add crunch to your lean protein sources or veggies with coconut flour, an ingredient that
offers more protein, fiber and vitamins than traditional breadcrumbs. Even better, you are
offering holiday guests a gluten-free food option.
Instead of added sugars, try: Fruit puree
Most baked goods are packed with added sugars. For a natural sweetness and additional
fiber try adding pureed fruits like dates or banana to replace some or the entire sweetener
in baked goods.
Instead of heavy cream, try: Tofu
Substitute heavy cream with silken tofu to add protein and reduce fat content in your holiday
recipes. Pureed tofu can be used in puddings, milk bases or sauces. Your vegan friends will
be thrilled with this recipe substitution.
Instead of using oils in baked goods, try:
Unsweetened applesauce or bean puree
Replace at least half of the oil in your favorite baked goods with unsweetened applesauce
or bean puree. The substitution will help maintain a moist baked good while not altering
the taste.
Instead of potatoes, try: Cauliflower
Keep your carbohydrate side dishes in check this holiday season by substituting cauliflower
for potatoes in mashed potatoes. Cooked cauliflower can be mashed up easily to create a consistency
and flavor similar to mashed potatoes.
Courtesy of:
www.neovitin.com/6-healthy-ingredient-alternatives-for-healthier-holiday-recipes/
Contact: Dena Bector
https://awifeys.myrandf.com
713-397-9342
8 December 2017 | Community Newsletter