December 10, 2019

Christmas time is almost synonymous with cookie season. There’s just something about the winter holiday that makes us want to indulge in those delectable baked goods, from light and crispy, to rich and decadent, to smothered in sprinkles, and everything in between! Unfortunately, a lot of Christmas cookie recipes are loaded with refined sugar—an ingredient that is not only unhealthy in large amounts but may negatively impact a child’s cognitive development if consumed in excess during pregnancy.¹

Healthy Christmas Cookie Recipes

Thanks to the vast and easily accessible reach of the Internet, one doesn’t have to look very far to find some really terrific recipes that are both delicious and less sugary. Below we’ll highlight a few of our favorites that we’ve come across. Feel free to follow the links provided in each section and bookmark the recipes for your holiday baking!

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe comes courtesy of Well Plated by Erin, a cooking blog dedicated to providing nutritious recipes for food that tastes great. Erin’s Healthy Oatmeal Cookies are soft and chewy, with great flavors and textures. Best of all, they’re made with less butter (i.e., less fat) and no sugar. What’s the trick to skimping on the sugar and fat? Erin substitutes honey for refined sugar and uses applesauce in place of half the butter. This keeps the cookies sweet and moist, but much more health-friendly than your typical cookie recipe.²

Get the Recipe: https://www.wellplated.com/healthy-oatmeal-cookies/

Healthy Banana Nut Cookies

Looking for a simple and quick cookie recipe that’s sure to please? These banana nut cookies from Skinny Taste are made with only three ingredients: mashed ripe bananas, oatmeal and walnuts—like banana bread in cookie form!³ Since these are made using real, ripe bananas, they contain natural sweetness but are not overly sweet. If you ever wanted to eat cookies for breakfast, these will be your go-to!

Get the Recipe: https://www.skinnytaste.com/healthy-cookies/

Bev’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

We’ve never met Bev, but we know she hit the bullseye when it comes to creating a delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe without excess sugar. Her healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe was contributed to Eating Well magazine’s July/August 2012 issue and has been featured on the publication’s website ever since.

So, what makes Bev’s Chocolate Chip Cookies a healthy alternative? She crafted a recipe that not only cuts back on the sugar, but also incorporates whole grains. As an added bonus, these cookies are great for making ahead of time, as they can be stored in the freezer for up to two months.⁴

Get the Recipe: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/248795/bevs-chocolate-chip- cookies/

Staying Healthy During the Holidays

We understand it can be tough to resist all the delightful, sugary treats that come with the holiday season. But for expecting mothers, it is especially important to be mindful of the foods they are eating and in what quantities. We hope this post has provided our expecting moms with some great ideas for holiday baking! We also encourage all new and expecting moms to continually monitor their nutrition and overall health needs all year long.

Prenatal Vitamins

In addition to watching your diet, another way of maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy is to practice excellent prenatal care by scheduling regular checkups with your OB-GYN, listening to your body and ensuring all of your other health needs are met. Taking prenatal vitamins can also be beneficial, especially for mothers who may not be able to obtain the needed levels of nutrients from their regular diets.

The Prenate^® Vitamin Family line of prenatal vitamins offers a wide selection of nutritional supplements to suit moms-to-be at any stage of their journey. Talk to your doctor to learn about the benefits of adding a daily prenatal vitamin to your prenatal care plan.

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