I just got back from Texas. The BBQ capital of the world and now I’m officially in pre-holiday detox mode.
Because BBQ + tacos + Texas breakfast = was delicious and yet heavy to digest. But the beauty was I got a mini-vacation and it was everything this tired mama needed.
Sleep, delicious food, family, friends, an amazing conference, more food and now heading home to my beautiful family that I’ve missed. I feel like a new woman, minus the food that I’m still digesting from yesterday.
But I have to say, the mom guilt generally talks me out of nearly every opportunity to travel that I have but this time, it just felt right. So to all of the tired moms out there, it’s okay to take some time for you. I can promise it will make you a better mom, wife and whatever titles you carry because we all need to do something refreshing for our souls.
Before it turns into full detox mode over here. I still want to continue to remind you that the Holidays are quickly approaching and if you’re like me you may be scrambling to finalize the Thanksgiving meal, or maybe even think about it yet.
I’m here to tell you, it is only weeks away.
Okay, so now that we have that clarified and we’re all taking deep breaths and working through it I want to remind you that the Holidays don’t need to be something we fear or despise or just let loose over.
That we can have a very healthy, restful and amazing holiday season.
I explain all of the ways here in my podcast: Five Realistic Tips for a Healthy Holiday. You have to check it out because these are the most realistic tips you’ve heard.
But one tip that was just briefly mentioned in the show is to take a “safe dish” or a healthier option that you know you love to your next gathering. Take whatever you feel most tempted by and keep the cravings at bay.
For me that may or may no be dessert. AHEM.
Because I know I’m not alone, right….. right…. I thought I’d fill your feed with this delicious and beautiful dessert, plus, a handful of other healthy options you could whip up for the big day. What would you choose?
- 2 cups almond flour
- ¼ cup tapioca flour
- ¼ cup flaxseed meal
- 2 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 cup bananas, mashed
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ⅓ cup honey
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp cloves
- caramel sauce
- In a large bowl mix the almond flour, tapioca flour, flaxseed meal, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, salt and chia seeds.
- In a separate bowl, cream together coconut oil (not melted) and honey with a hand mixer.
- Add in eggs one at a time and continue mixing.
- Add in mashed banana, vanilla extract and coconut milk, mix until fully incorporated. .
- Pour wet ingredients in with dry ingredients and mix together with hand mixer to form batter.
- Line an 8x10-inch baking pan with parchment paper, covering two sides. Leave extra long so you have a handle to pull cake out.
- Pour the mixture evenly in the pan.
- In a separate bowl place peeled and sliced apples. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and gently mix. Lay in a single layer on top of cake.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Set the pan on a wire rack when removing it from the oven and allow it to cool.
- Remove and drizzle with caramel sauce.
7 Additional Healthy Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas:
2. 5 Ingredient Healthy Caramel Popcorn Balls
3. Paleo Crispy Ginger Cookies
4. Grain-Free Apple Pie Biscuits
5. Paleo Double Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
7. Apple Streusel Caramel Flatbread