Shop
Joyous Health Recipes Food
Joyous Health Wellbeing Well-Being
Joyous Health Beauty Beauty
Joyous Health Family Family
Podcast
Previous Episodes 
ABOUT
Contact
RESOURCES
Podcast
ABOUT
Contact
RESOURCES

Healthy Holiday Goodies & Tips for Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain

Does the holiday season make you a bit antsy about weight gain and battling the bulge come January? It doesn't have to be this way! Why not enjoy a few heal
Dec 16, 2010 | Joy McCarthy

Does the holiday season make you a bit antsy about weight gain and battling the bulge come January? It doesn't have to be this way! Why not enjoy a few healthy treats and get a mega-dose of nutrients at the same time?

Eating real food, as unprocessed as possible, will prevent cravings and elevate your mood so you can be merry and joyous all through the holidays. I have compiled a few of my favourite sweet treats that I will be talking about LIVE on Wylde On Health, Friday December 17th at 7pm EST. Here they are!

Raw Cacao Antioxidant Fudge (as pictured above)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup crunchy almond butter or organic natural peanut butter

4 tbsp organic coco oil

1/2 cup raw cacao powder

1/4 cup raw honey

2 tbsp goji berries

2 tbsp walnut pieces

Method: If the coco oil is not liquid, slightly melt it in a pot. Once it's liquid, combine it with the almond butter and then slowly add the raw cacao powder while mixing. Add the raw honey, it will melt if the coco oil is slightly warm. Pour the mixture into a greased pan (small size - just depends how thick you want the fudge) and then sprinkle the top with walnuts and goji berries. Place in freezer or fridge until it's solid. Slice into bite size pieces and enJOY.

Note: It melts quickly, so if you take it out of the refrigerator please note that it's not a it's not a treat that can sit out for a long period of time.

Gluten-Free Ginger Cinnamon Cookies

Ingredients:

2-1/4 cups brown rice flour

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp aluminum-free baking soda (make sure it's gluten-free)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 cup organic coconut oil

1/2 cup Therasweet All-natural sweetener or sucanat sugar

1 organic egg

1/4 cup organic molasses

Method: Combine all the dry ingredients (except the sugar) into a large size bowl, set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine the oil, sugar, egg and molasses, beat well. Once combined, slowly add the remaining dry ingredients and beat until smooth.

Form the batter into two inch balls and roll in cane sugar (if you like) and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes, be careful not to over bake them. Let cool on a cookie rack. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Almond Butter Cookies

1 3/4 cups almond flour (don't pack the flour down, it's very dense and you will use too much if you pack it)

1 cup oats

1/2 cup of coconut flakes

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1/2 cup sucanat sugar

3 organic eggs

2 tbsp crunchy almond butter

1/4 cup organic coconut oil

Combine all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and add the almond butter and coconut oil, stir together. Combine both the wet and dry ingredients until the batter has no dry bits. Form into 1 inch balls and flatten with a fork onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Watch the cookies carefully, every oven varies a little bit in cooking time.

I like mine a little brown on the outside and chewy on the inside. which takes 10 minutes, but I have a condo sized oven (SMALL) so it probably gets hotter than most ovens. Makes 2-3 dozen little gems of deliciousness.

Please always buy the best quality ingredients so that you can absolutely maximize the nutrition in what you are eating!

Raw Cacao Date Balls

Ingredients:

4-5 soft and large medjool dates

1/2 cup almonds (preferably soaked overnight to remove the enzyme inhibitors)

2 tbsp raw cacao nibs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Method: Combine all the ingredients in your food processor and blend until fully combined. Form into 1.5" balls and refrigerate. Yes, it is THAT easy! :)

MORE RECIPES: Recently AOL's That's Fit posted the top 12 Most Popular Recipe Posts for 2010 and many of them were created by yours truly - joyous health. These are nutritionista-foodie approved. Enjoy!

Here is a great article on FIVE WAYS TO AVOID HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN with proven strategies to help you stay on track and feel your absolute best. I follow these tips myself and I even make time for exercise and yoga all throughout the holidays. This is how I stay joyous. Plus the added benefit is that I don't have to hit the gym 7 days a week or feel a shred of guilt in January! You can do it too.

Happy Holidays and beee joyous!

Joy

Dec 16, 2010 BY Joy McCarthy
9 Comments
Kristin   •   December 17, 2010

These recipes look awesome! I will be making some of them for sure. Thanks and Happy Holidays, Joy!

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   December 20, 2010

Ginger cookies – light and delicious, naturally « Cucina Naturale   •   December 17, 2010

[...] orignal recipe for these cookies is here. I was very thrilled to get the idea and the very important fundamentals from Joy’s blog. I am [...]

Reply

Janet   •   December 31, 2010

Joy, I just saw the CP24 show (replay) for the first time. It is so exciting to me because these recipes will be wonderful when I start the biggest loser at work starting Jan.6. I probably have about 50 lbs to lose and I will be taking it slow and I will be using the keddlebell workout dvd I just purchased. I am really excited. Thank you for your inspiration!

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   January 2, 2011

Shawna   •   July 15, 2011

Hey Joy! Quick Q for you. I'm baking up a bunch of these goodies as we are headed off next week to watch my boyfriend participate in his first Ironman Triathlon and I wanted to have a bunch of healthy treats on hand! Anyway, I'm wondering if these will be alright frozen for about four-six days? (Specifically the almond butter cookies and the ginger cookies) thank you!! (p.s I've made both of these recipes many times over-so tasty!! :)

Reply
Joy McCarthy   •   July 15, 2011

The 31 day fat loss cure diet   •   May 14, 2012

Hi there, You have performed an excellent job. I'll certainly digg it and in my view recommend to my friends. I'm sure they'll be benefited from this site.

Reply

It’s Halloween! — Olivia Canela   •   October 31, 2013

[…] things have been cooking in our kitchen this Halloween. First, Raw Cacao Fudge with goji berries and walnuts to bring to a Halloween party last weekend. I recommend doubling or […]

Reply

Post Comment

Welcome to thoughtful, organic beauty

Hello Joyous is an organic, plant-based, sustainable beauty brand here to bring more joy to your day.