NUTRITION Q: Is there any way to make healthy Christmas cookies? A: Yes and No. I would say there are ways of making HEALTHIER cookies, but regardless a cookie is still a cookie. That being said, we are all still going to eat them this season, so trying to healthify them is not only a great idea but an excellent show of problem solving through the holiday season. In general, there are two ways to make any food healthier: Jessica Carter Registered and Licensed Dietitian A.)Replace an old recipe with a new version: Do a broad internet search for "Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipes" and see what you find. Or type in "Healthy (insert cookie name here). There is a healthier version of just about every dish or baked good on the internet somewhere. Take note though that not all of these healthy recipes are going to turn out exactly as you want. And most often the picture may look a lot like your 70 year old recipe for sugar cookies, but the taste is not there. So if you have time, test the new recipes out, maybe make half a batch as a tester. B.)Modify current recipes: Depending on the cookie, you can often replace some or all of the fat with a healthier substitute. Fruit puree works well, especially in breads. Some recipes you can replace the butter with a heart healthy oil. (Cookies turn out best if you replace about 50% of the butter with oil rather than trying for the full amount.) Another good fat replacer is plain yogurt. This works well in place of sour cream or butter. Above all, try avoiding trans fats such as margarine and shortening. Also, adding fiber to your cookie is an additional way to increase nutrition, this is as easy as using whole wheat all-purpose pastry flour or adding ground flax seed to the dry ingredients. Remember, everything in moderation. And too much stress is bad as well, so find that balance between over stressing about the holiday foods and not caring at all. 218-556-9089 CORE HEALTH 1900 Division St., Unit 1 NUTRITION & YOGA Bemidji, MN corehealthbemidji.com NUTRITION Q: Is there any way to make healthy Christmas cookies? A: Yes and No. I would say there are ways of making HEALTHIER cookies, but regardless a cookie is still a cookie. That being said, we are all still going to eat them this season, so trying to healthify them is not only a great idea but an excellent show of problem solving through the holiday season. In general, there are two ways to make any food healthier: Jessica Carter Registered and Licensed Dietitian A.)Replace an old recipe with a new version: Do a broad internet search for "Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipes" and see what you find. Or type in "Healthy (insert cookie name here). There is a healthier version of just about every dish or baked good on the internet somewhere. Take note though that not all of these healthy recipes are going to turn out exactly as you want. And most often the picture may look a lot like your 70 year old recipe for sugar cookies, but the taste is not there. So if you have time, test the new recipes out, maybe make half a batch as a tester. B.)Modify current recipes: Depending on the cookie, you can often replace some or all of the fat with a healthier substitute. Fruit puree works well, especially in breads. Some recipes you can replace the butter with a heart healthy oil. (Cookies turn out best if you replace about 50% of the butter with oil rather than trying for the full amount.) Another good fat replacer is plain yogurt. This works well in place of sour cream or butter. Above all, try avoiding trans fats such as margarine and shortening. Also, adding fiber to your cookie is an additional way to increase nutrition, this is as easy as using whole wheat all-purpose pastry flour or adding ground flax seed to the dry ingredients. Remember, everything in moderation. And too much stress is bad as well, so find that balance between over stressing about the holiday foods and not caring at all. 218-556-9089 CORE HEALTH 1900 Division St., Unit 1 NUTRITION & YOGA Bemidji, MN corehealthbemidji.com