Quarantine Baking: Make it Healthy!
By Michelle Sala, Integrative Health Coach
Crazy times
We are all experiencing crazy times right now. Some of us are just majorly inconvenienced, while others are fighting for their lives and lively hoods. I understand that it’s easy to indulge in comfort foods, but we don’t want to emerge from this lock down 20 lbs. heavier and on the verge of Type II diabetes! Staying away from junk food will optimize your immune system.
So, instead of making ‘regular’ cookies, cakes, or eating store bought treats, I would like to share of some of my favorite recipes with you that are sugar-free and pretty low-carb. Yes, refined sugar-free still tastes great! Healthy quarantine baking is one way to pass the time and stay healthy.
Sugar-free baking
One of the ingredients that I use in a couple of these recipes is a baking mix that my good friend, Maura Knowles, created. Maura and I met in our health coaching program. She developed this mix for her father who is a heart patient and diabetic and could no longer eat treats with refined flour and sugar. The mix is really versatile and is grain-free and low-carb. It’s got a secret blend of almond flour, coconut flour, chia seeds, coconut and spices. It’s great because no additional spices are needed in many recipes. You can purchase the mix at www.macnmos.com. It would be really great if you supported her business as she is also one of the small business affected by the global business shutdown.
With Mac-n-Mo’s Morselicious Mix you can make these two recipes (and so much more) that I created:
Carrot or Zucchini Mini Muffins (I make them most often with carrots because I always have carrots on hand. Both ways are delicious!)
Morselicious Low-Carb Carrot Cake (perfect for Easter)
Chocolate please!
Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies? This will fast become a quarantine baking favorite: Here is my easy to make chocolate chip cookie recipe. Both the almond flour and Lakanto is available at Costco and have been plentiful during the run on staples. I find that all the healthy ingredients have been in stock so that’s a plus! I’ve been replacing the butter with avocado oil (also available at Costco) which makes it faster to make them and easier to blend. You don’t have to wait for the butter to soften. I usually use Lilly’s sugar-free chocolate chips, but you can use any that you’d like.
Guilt-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’d like a something chocolaty to pop in your mouth, try these Truffle Balls.
Want something more decadent, but still keto?
Keto Ice Cream (This is fun for the kids to make. Give each kid their own pint sized mason jar and they can flavor any way they want.)
Don’t go crazy, tho…
Just because these sweet treats are a healthier version, doesn’t mean you can eat an unlimited amount! Calories still add up. The good thing about these treats is that they won’t spike blood sugar which leads to insulin resistance and other problems if you are constantly eating high carb foods.
Happy quarantine baking! Stay safe and sane everyone. If you try any of these recipes, please let me know what you think!
Hugs, Michelle
