A Guilt-Free Guide to Holiday Sweet Treats
The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD.
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I’ve always said that guilt is a useless emotion, especially when it comes to food. Useless, yet still very real, isn’t it?
Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the holiday season without feeling bad about your food choices? I can assure you it’s totally possible, but first you must uninvite guilt as a guest inside your head. Joy, love, and appreciation can all stay, but to make peace with your food, guilt must be shown the door.
Once guilt is gone, the next step is to harness your power of choice.
One thing I know for sure is there’s never a shortage of choices on holiday dessert tables. This can be challenging when you’re trying to honor your Fx™ (food as medicine) eating plan. But what if in addition to the fudge brownies, fruit pies, and chocolate chip cookies, there were other tasty treats available that just happened to be Fx-approved? Now that’s what I call the best of both worlds!
Get ready to celebrate the holiday season Fx-style with these 100% guilt-free sweet treats at Heinen’s that are sure to surprise and delight your tastebuds.
Fx-Approved Cookie Swaps
Give your guests a choice by adding a few of these gluten-free, reduced-sugar treats to your cookie tray.
- Agility Balls: A gluten-free, oat-based dessert bite available in Longevity (coconut, raisin, ginger), Power (chocolate, peanut butter), Balance (chocolate, peanut butter, banana), and Energy (chocolate, date). Located in the Bakery Department.
- Joolies Peanut Butter Jelly or Brownie Date Pops: These date and nut bites are a perfectly poppable indulgence to satisfy your sweet tooth. Located in the Dried Fruit Aisle.
- Sweet Loren’s Fudgy Brownie or Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough: Gluten, dairy, and allergen-free cookies made with feel-good ingredients and ready to enjoy hot from the oven in only 10 minutes. Located in the Dairy Department.
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix: Made with only seven simple ingredients and sweetened with coconut sugar and chocolate chips. Located in Baking Aisle.
- Heavenly Hunks: A soft and chewy better-for-you cookie available in Brownie, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, or Peanut Butter Chocolate varieties. Located in the Candy Aisle.
Fx-Approved Cookie Recipes
Fx-Approved Candy Swaps
Put the brakes on sugar and fill your candy dish with these healthier alternatives.
- Hu Dark Chocolate Hunks: Organic cashews or almonds covered in Fairtrade cacao with just a touch of coconut sugar. Located in the Candy Aisle.
- Hu Dark Chocolate Bites: Dark chocolate creamy coconut or hazelnut butter bites individually wrapped and perfectly portioned for just the right amount of sweet. Located in the Candy aisle.
- smartBARK!: A vegan, USDA organic chocolate bark made locally with 70% cacao and premium ingredients like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Located in the Candy Aisle.
- Fresh Energy Date Almond Rolls or Date Coconut Rolls: Nature’s candy rolled in almonds or coconut to give them the look and feel of a conventional candy bar. Located in the Produce Department.
- Heinen’s Organic Banana Chips: A delightfully crunchy and sweet substitute for hard candy. Located in the Dried Fruit Aisle.
Fx-Approved Candy Recipes
- No-Bake Dark Chocolate Clusters (sprinkle with Navitas Goji Berries to make them extra festive!)
- Healthy Candy Bars (top with fresh pomegranate arils for a pop of seasonal color!)
Fx-Approved Hot Chocolate and Eggnog Swaps
Of course we can’t forget our favorite holiday sweet drinks, both of which are available in Fx-approved choices.
- Laird Superfood Hot Chocolate: A dairy-free premium hot chocolate made with organic cacao powder and functional mushrooms. Top with So Delicious Dairy Free CocoWhip for a real treat! Located in the Hot Chocolate Aisle.
- Califia Farms Holiday Nog: A dairy and egg-free take on classic eggnog with much less sugar! Located in the Dairy Department.
Key Takeaway
Although I’m a proud follower of an Fx lifestyle, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t make room for one of mom’s famous (non-Fx-approved) snowball cookies. A little cookie, a lot of fruit salad, and zero guilt! My wish is that you too can experience the best of both worlds this holiday season.
