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| You don't have to give up healthy holiday treats when doing Keto or Atkins |
When you're on a very low-carb diet, such as Atkins or Keto, the holidays can be rough.
Everywhere you turn, there is candy, cookies, quick breads, and other carby treats enticing you to go off plan.
Whether it's an office party pot-luck, hot cocoa and marshmallows, warm cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, or the cookie plate the neighbor sent over on Christmas Eve, holiday traditions offer multiple temptations and opportunities to chuck your ketogenic diet and go face down into those unhealthy treats.
Why?
Because tradition feels comforting and familiar.
In the past, you've probably felt that since the holidays only come around once a year, there is nothing to feel guilty about if you eat a few too many treats.
And yes, that's true.
Because tradition feels comforting and familiar.
In the past, you've probably felt that since the holidays only come around once a year, there is nothing to feel guilty about if you eat a few too many treats.
And yes, that's true.
But moving
into your first low-carb Christmas changes all of that. Things are different now, so perhaps, you feel apprehensive and worried. Low carb isn't something you can toss away just like that.
For many people, it's difficult to recover from a holiday cheat.
For many people, it's difficult to recover from a holiday cheat.
Which means your past traditions have been disrupted.
A ketogenic diet is a massive lifestyle change, but switching your mindset from using carbs for comfort to wanting to make healthy snacks for the holidays doesn't happen overnight.
Even
if you've been around the Keto block for a few years, you might have
a tendency to make it through Christmas by white-knuckling the cookie
plates and banana bread the best way you can, but that's no way to
spend the holidays.
Even though you're on a low-carb diet, Christmas can still be fun and exciting!
Even though you're on a low-carb diet, Christmas can still be fun and exciting!
All
it takes is a little creativity and a bit of time to throw together a few super-easy to prepare, red-and-green, low-carb holiday snacks of your
own.
Pamper Yourself with Healthy Holiday Snacks
What makes
Christmas festive?
It isn't really the sugar and carbs.
It's the colorful decorations, twinkling lights on the tree, or building a snowman in the front yard.
It's the fun that comes from shopping for gifts, donating to Toys for Tots, and stringing the kids' red-and-green paper chains throughout the house.
It's the colorful decorations, twinkling lights on the tree, or building a snowman in the front yard.
It's the fun that comes from shopping for gifts, donating to Toys for Tots, and stringing the kids' red-and-green paper chains throughout the house.
Granted, food is often the center of attention, but due to all of the restrictions and difficulties avoiding cross contamination, going gluten free really changed my outlook on life.
Before I discovered I had celiac disease, I used to bake with a lot of low-carb flour substitutes for the holidays: pre-made mixes like Carbquick or straight Carbalose flour.
These wheat-flour alternatives tasted funny, since they are wheat protein flours, but they made good tasting low-carb gingerbread cookies and pie crust.
Before I discovered I had celiac disease, I used to bake with a lot of low-carb flour substitutes for the holidays: pre-made mixes like Carbquick or straight Carbalose flour.
These wheat-flour alternatives tasted funny, since they are wheat protein flours, but they made good tasting low-carb gingerbread cookies and pie crust.
They also made me feel more normal.
The
downside to these flours is that they are also super high in wheat
protein and wheat starch. They are almost pure gluten. As a result, I
can no longer use them.
Instead, I've had to come up with brand-new gluten-free holiday snacks instead.
Instead, I've had to come up with brand-new gluten-free holiday snacks instead.
For us, color
and holiday shapes is where it's at.
That's the take-away from looking at all of the fun things there is to do at Christmas time.
You don't have to cave into temptation. It's fairly easy to eat healthy low-carb snacks and treats just by letting color and shape show you the way.
That's the take-away from looking at all of the fun things there is to do at Christmas time.
You don't have to cave into temptation. It's fairly easy to eat healthy low-carb snacks and treats just by letting color and shape show you the way.
4 Super-Easy Low-Carb Red-and-Green Snacks for the Holiday
Color
and shape will transform your ordinary low-carb snacks into something
that can help get you into the holiday mood, but pampering yourself
doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen if you don't want
to.
Neither does your low-carb plate have to be overflowing with red and green treats.
Your healthy holiday plate will be more inviting and tempting if you simply scatter those Christmas colors among your favorite snacks.
Neither does your low-carb plate have to be overflowing with red and green treats.
Your healthy holiday plate will be more inviting and tempting if you simply scatter those Christmas colors among your favorite snacks.
Keep
in mind that I don't normally eat this much cheese.
I eat only a few dairy products, now and then, but hubby has been on a pepper-jack cheese binge lately, so I just happen to have a lot of cheese in the house right now.
Most low-carb dieters do eat a lot of cheese.
If that's not you, just use the following four ideas as inspiration to come up with your own red and green treats for the holidays.
I eat only a few dairy products, now and then, but hubby has been on a pepper-jack cheese binge lately, so I just happen to have a lot of cheese in the house right now.
Most low-carb dieters do eat a lot of cheese.
If that's not you, just use the following four ideas as inspiration to come up with your own red and green treats for the holidays.
1. Baked Cheese Chips with Jalapeno and Red Peppers
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| Low-Carb Cheese Chips with Minced Jalapeno and Red Peppers |
Microwaved American cheese is a favorite of many low-carb dieters. It makes a tasty gluten-free cracker that is perfect for a holiday dip or fresh salsa, but I wanted to do something different this time.
To add a little bit of holiday pizzazz to that traditional snack, I grated some pepper-jack cheese using the finest holes on the grater instead of using American slices.
Once
the cheese was grated, I pre-heated the oven to 375 degrees, lined a
small cookie sheet with parchment paper, and then measured out
haystack-like bundles with a tablespoon.
I knew the cheese was going to spread, so I scrunched the cheese bundles together a little bit, letting them stay in the shape of a haystack.
I knew the cheese was going to spread, so I scrunched the cheese bundles together a little bit, letting them stay in the shape of a haystack.
Pepper-jack
cheese already contains flakes of red and green peppers, but once
melted, those colors will quickly fade into the cheese. [I learned that the hard way.]
To intensify the red and green colors, I next minced up some jalapeno pepper and sweet red bell pepper, gently sprinkling them both over the top of the cheese stacks.
You might need to use a pair of tweezers to get all of the peppers to stay put. I did.
Don't be stingy with the peppers, either. I only used a little bit in mine, and they could have used a whole lot more.
To intensify the red and green colors, I next minced up some jalapeno pepper and sweet red bell pepper, gently sprinkling them both over the top of the cheese stacks.
You might need to use a pair of tweezers to get all of the peppers to stay put. I did.
Don't be stingy with the peppers, either. I only used a little bit in mine, and they could have used a whole lot more.
Bake
the cheese bundles for 15 minutes, until they have begun to brown.
Remove the tray from the oven and set it on a cooling rack. Let the
chips stay on the tray until they cool down and crisp up.
Either serve as is, or with a nice salsa or homemade dip.
I actually made these at the same time that I did the crackers, but you could just as easily do one snack at a time.
We almost always have some type of salami in the refrigerator that we can pair with cheese and crackers for a quick-and-easy weekend lunch.
I prefer the dry type of salami, but right now, we have the regular kind we picked up at Costco. For some reason, the dry salami is extremely hard to find, even here in Texas.
Regular salami is on the greasy side, so I wanted to try baking it to see if it would taste less mushy.
Either serve as is, or with a nice salsa or homemade dip.
2. Salami Christmas Trees
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| Salami Christmas Trees with sliced green onions and red peppers |
I actually made these at the same time that I did the crackers, but you could just as easily do one snack at a time.
We almost always have some type of salami in the refrigerator that we can pair with cheese and crackers for a quick-and-easy weekend lunch.
I prefer the dry type of salami, but right now, we have the regular kind we picked up at Costco. For some reason, the dry salami is extremely hard to find, even here in Texas.
Regular salami is on the greasy side, so I wanted to try baking it to see if it would taste less mushy.
I
sliced the salami into thin circles, about 1/8-inch thick. Next, I
cut the slices into Christmas tree shapes. For the first one, I tried
to cut out tree branches, but it didn't come out well, so I decided
to use a triangle-shaped tree with a trunk.
That shape was easy to cut by hand and worked extremely well. If you have a metal Christmas tree cookie cutter, that would be even better.
That shape was easy to cut by hand and worked extremely well. If you have a metal Christmas tree cookie cutter, that would be even better.
I
placed the trees on another parchment-lined cookie sheet, and tossed
them into the oven next to the cheese chips. I baked them just as
long as the chips, 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
Since they were greasy, they were just beginning to brown when I removed them. If you're lucky enough to get dry salami, you might want to check them after 10 minutes. They might cook faster.
Since they were greasy, they were just beginning to brown when I removed them. If you're lucky enough to get dry salami, you might want to check them after 10 minutes. They might cook faster.
While
still warm, I sprinkled the trees with grated pepper jack cheese and
some sliced green onion tops, scattering the shredded greenery over
the top of the trees to look like branches.
I next added some minced red peppers I had left over from the crackers for added color, spreading them out a bit to look like tree globes.
I next added some minced red peppers I had left over from the crackers for added color, spreading them out a bit to look like tree globes.
Alternatively,
if you can't do dairy, you could let the trees cool down and spread
them with a spicy mustard instead of the cheese. The mustard will
enable the sliced green onion tops to stick.
Pepperoni also works like this. In fact, if you nuke pepperoni rounds, they will crisp up just like the cheese crackers do.
Pepperoni also works like this. In fact, if you nuke pepperoni rounds, they will crisp up just like the cheese crackers do.
3. Low-Carb Cheese Cut-Outs
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| Pepper-Jack cheese cut into snowmen and stars to resemble Christmas cookies |
Okay.
These really aren't cookies. But don't you just love how they look? I do!
They are simply sliced pepper-jack cheese that I cut into Christmas shapes with a couple of cookie cutters.
I actually made these first, and then I gathered up all of the scraps and grated them for the low-carb crackers.
These low-carb cheese cut-outs were fast and simple to make, so they would be easy for all sorts of holiday platters. Just use appropriate cookie cutters for the occasion.
They are simply sliced pepper-jack cheese that I cut into Christmas shapes with a couple of cookie cutters.
I actually made these first, and then I gathered up all of the scraps and grated them for the low-carb crackers.
These low-carb cheese cut-outs were fast and simple to make, so they would be easy for all sorts of holiday platters. Just use appropriate cookie cutters for the occasion.
4. Rich, Low-Carb Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream
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| Did you know that you can make low-carb hot chocolate with whipped cream? This recipe is one of my favorites! |
The
holidays and hot cocoa go hand-in-hand for me. There's nothing I like
better than curling up on the sofa, after the tree is decorated, with
a nice steaming cup of hot cocoa, so we can relax and enjoy the lights.
Making that cocoa low carb isn't difficult. While you can always pick up a box of sugar-free hot cocoa mix (I think it used to be called diet cocoa mix), making your own with heavy whipping cream instead of the powdered milk in the mix is richer and tastier.
Making that cocoa low carb isn't difficult. While you can always pick up a box of sugar-free hot cocoa mix (I think it used to be called diet cocoa mix), making your own with heavy whipping cream instead of the powdered milk in the mix is richer and tastier.
Low-Carb Hot Cocoa Recipe (Includes a Dairy-Free Option)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- (dark cocoa only takes 1 tablespoon)
- sugar substitute to equal 2 to 4 tablespoons of sugar
- 2 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream or thick coconut milk
- boiling water to fill the cup
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla
- Whipped cream
The
measurements on making hot cocoa vary depending on what type of cocoa
powder you're using, how dark the cocoa is, how sweet you like your
hot cocoa to be, and how much fat you can tolerate in your diet.
Measure
the cocoa powder and place it in the bottom of the cup. Add sweetener
to taste and stir well. I have never tried to sweeten hot cocoa with
stevia, so I don't have any tips for that.
Once the cocoa and sugar substitute is mixed together the best you can, stir in the heavy cream. The more cream you add, the richer the cocoa will be.
Once the cocoa and sugar substitute is mixed together the best you can, stir in the heavy cream. The more cream you add, the richer the cocoa will be.
If
you can't do dairy, you can use coconut milk that you've put in the
refrigerator to make it thicker. With coconut milk, I always used 1/4
cup.
Add the boiling water to fill up the cup, but make sure you leave room for the vanilla if you're using it. Add vanilla. For an extra special treat, top your hot cocoa with some whipped cream.
And if you're really into red and green, you can tint that whipped cream pink or green for a more festive look.
Add the boiling water to fill up the cup, but make sure you leave room for the vanilla if you're using it. Add vanilla. For an extra special treat, top your hot cocoa with some whipped cream.
And if you're really into red and green, you can tint that whipped cream pink or green for a more festive look.
Additional Keto Healthy Snacks to Add to Keep You on Plan
Most Keto dieters don't go out of their way to eat. Keto nutrition cuts the cravings and as a result, sometimes, I even forget to eat lunch, let alone stop researching and writing long enough to grab a snack.
For that reason, an active lifestyle often requires you to reach for snacks and meals that are easy and quick to fix.
For that reason, an active lifestyle often requires you to reach for snacks and meals that are easy and quick to fix.
Healthy snacks for the holidays don't have to be any different. Try filling up your plate with several of the following additional snacking ideas:
- cucumber or zucchini slices topped with chicken salad
- deviled eggs filled with guacamole or chicken salad
- chicken chunks wrapped in bacon and baked until cooked through
- celery filled with peanut butter and cream cheese
- left over jalapeno hot poppers
- left over hot wings
- Scotch eggs or sausage meatballs
- meatballs seasoned with jalapeno, minced red peppers, and bacon
- cheeseball, rolled into small balls and coated in chopped nuts
- peanut butter and cream cheese fat bombs
Lunch meat type ham can be spread with a spicy mustard, wrapped around a pickle, cut into 1-inch slices, and then turned so that the pickle is facing upward.
If you have a tray with dividers, toss in some black or green olives, mini dill pickles or wedges, some seasoned almonds, and maybe some cherry tomatoes or baby carrots to brighten up the plate.
Even if you don't have dividers, the trick is to avoid using so-so foods.
You don't want to be tempted to go off plan, so give yourself permission to splurge on ketogenic snacks and treats like cottage cheese with fresh raspberries or blueberries, stuffed mushrooms, zucchini pizza rounds, mixed nuts, or anything that will make you feel pampered and included.
You don't want to be tempted to go off plan, so give yourself permission to splurge on ketogenic snacks and treats like cottage cheese with fresh raspberries or blueberries, stuffed mushrooms, zucchini pizza rounds, mixed nuts, or anything that will make you feel pampered and included.
Keto is No Excuse for Not Enjoying the Holidays
The
holidays will only be as rough as you make them.
Sure,
you won't be able to eat some of the things you used to enjoy during
this festive time of the year, but you can easily begin making new
holiday traditions by looking at your favorite low-carb snacks in a
different way.
While using lots of red and green vegetables can make your snack plate look more like Christmas treats, don't box yourself into only those two colors.
While using lots of red and green vegetables can make your snack plate look more like Christmas treats, don't box yourself into only those two colors.
Focus
on your favorite foods and let the Christmas atmosphere carry you
into the new year, a little bit healthier and still on plan.
Now it's your turn.
What are your favorite low-carb holiday snacks?
Fun and doable ideas. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous. Glad you found the low-carb snack ideas useful.
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