The expectations and pace of life in December can easily spin out of control. In terms of self-care, December can be the hardest month. And the most critical, right? We can be overly busy, under-rested, sugar-crashed, out of our normal rhythms, and often struggling with expectations and stress about money, time, year-end loose ends, gifts, travel, family challenges, getting things done on time… and the list goes on. To have balance and health in the face of it requires both a conscious intention and some practical tools.
What would make it easier to stay healthy, sane, and nourished? What do you need to ground yourself and restore during the month of extra chaos, extra festivities, extra treats, extra spending, etc.?
For the next 5 days, I will be posting simple suggestions for tending to your body, heart, and mind during the frenzy.
Day 1. Healthy & Delicious Treats
Let’s start off with dessert first. Have them on hand. Create options that work for YOU and your body. Low glycemic, gluten-free, dairy-free, all natural—what ever allows you to feel like you are participating in the celebration but not throwing your body off a cliff. We shouldn’t have to “recover” from what we eat.
Here are recipes for two of my current favorite treats:
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 cups rolled oats (regular, not quick)
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup tahini (sesame butter)
1 cup chocolate chips (I like the mini semi-sweet or dark)
1 cup chopped walnuts (or the chopped nut of your choice)
Mix it all up. Preheat to 375. On parchment paper covered cookie sheets, spoon out small mounds of cookie. It will not be doughy, so you just have to make small piles of the mix. It will not spread significantly while cooking, so space accordingly.
Bake for 16-18 minutes, then LET THEM COOL. They will absolutely fall apart if you do not let them cool, but once they have cooled, they will solidify.
*This recipe is versatile. If you prefer raisins or cranberries and sunflower or pumpkin seeds, go for it. In a recent experimental batch, I added a couple mounded tablespoons of cocoa powder to the original recipe above for a satisfying chocolate-chocolate-chip. Regardless of the added ingredients, if the mix isn’t well moistened, add more maple and tahini, as they are the glue for all the dry ingredients.
Coconut Bark
This is essentially a home made candy bar. It’s the extravagant option of the two.
- 3/4-1 cup melted coconut oil
- 2 heaping Tablespoons softened coconut butter
- 1.25 cups shredded coconut
- 3 heaping Tablespoons cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1.5 cups chopped nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts, peanuts…)
- Adjust recipe for salted or unsalted nuts.
Instructions:
Melt the coconut oil and coconut butter in a saucepan. Add all the other ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour the mix onto a wax paper covered baking sheet or pan with edges. Score into 1-2” squares with a knife. Refrigerate. Once solidified, break or cut along scoring and enjoy. Store in a cool place. (These treats will melt otherwise.)
Thanks
These recipes have morphed a bit over time from the originals. Original recipes were shared by Lauren Worsh (bark) and Michelle Levendosky (cookies). Thank you, friends, for sharing the goodness.
