The holidays usher in joy in all forms—time with loved ones, the gift of giving, and delicious foods. Post-Christmas is not only time to get back on the healthy-eating wagon but also the beginning of winter’s depth. With biting temperatures and plenty of overcast skies, the next few months beg for a hot cup of coffee and a little something sweet to go along with it.
For me, the holiday season is one of the few times a year I allow myself leeway with my diet. I’m normally a healthy eater who puts great effort into the meals I make for my family, with particular time spent making healthy snacks for my very picky young children. (Their eating habits continually baffle me. Who doesn’t love avocados?) Once Christmas passes, I’m ready to switch gears and get my family back on track—including ridding my kitchen of leftover desserts that I won’t be able to resist!
I have a serious sweet tooth, as do my two sons. As a result, I’m always scouring the web for recipes that’ll satisfy our cravings without busting my need to keep our nutrition levels high and our sugar intake low. If you’d like to stay on a healthy path after indulging during the holidays, you’ll enjoy this list of clean-eating snacks I’ve compiled. Your only indulgence should be a fine cup of coffee to go along with these great recipes! So fire up your pour-over kit and get ready to hunker down for Old Man Winter!
I can’t wait to try this one out. It looks so indulgent, but the ingredients are far from being on the no-no list. Dark chocolate is a good source of heart-healthy flavanols, while walnuts add healthy fats and bananas lend a dose of potassium.
Flourless Blueberry Breakfast Bars
I made these recently and was pleasantly surprised at how much they resemble the real thing. The texture is a bit more loose than a regular bar and can be difficult to hold in your hand, but the taste is spot on. So enjoy them with a fork, and savor the flavor!
These are a standard in my household. The texture is perfectly fluffy. They aren’t as sweet as your average muffin, but for me this is a plus because I don’t like my muffins overly sugary. You can always add a little more sweetness since this recipe doesn’t use table sugar. I suggest using maple syrup because honey comes on too strong.
No-Bake Cookies With Coconut Oil and Honey
This recipe is a redo of an old favorite. These cookies were a favorite of my dad’s when I was a kid. As I began making them for my own kids, I wanted to find a way to kick up the health factor. This recipe is the perfect combination of classic flavors and clean ingredients.
I make these all the time, and I can promise you won’t miss the flour! The texture is surprisingly light, and there’s just enough sweetness to satisfy your sweet tooth. These are great for breakfast or as a snack with a cup of coffee later in the day.
Let us know if you try any of these sweet (but not too sweet, of course,) good-for-you treats! And be sure to check out some of our other recipes, too, both original and carefully curated. This coffee-cashew butter goes great with fresh fruit or carrot sticks. Oh, and you don't want to miss our carob-covered coffee cookies!