It’s National Cookie Day! What better way to celebrate than to whip up a batch of homemade cookies? While sugar tends to be the main ingredient in most cookie recipes, you can get creative with alternatives to make them easier on your diet. Check out our handy list below for some easy baking ingredient alternatives. Happy snacking!
Unsweetened applesauce – Swap one cup of unsweetened applesauce for one cup of sugar to drastically slash fat and calories. Try it in oatmeal cookies!
Honey – If you’re simply looking to lessen the amount of sugar in a recipe, honey is the way to go! Honey is full of nutrients like vitamins and minerals, and won’t send your blood sugar soaring. For every 1 cup of sugar, substitute 1/2 cup of honey.
Wheat flour – Skipping the traditional white flour used in most cookie recipes and swapping with whole wheat flour can save you from consuming empty calories and refined carbs. To make the switch, sub in one cup of wheat flour for one cup of white flour for a healthier alternative.
Bananas – Can you believe the mashed bananas can make an easy swap for butter? Bananas contain potassium and their sweet flavor makes it perfect for baking. Simply replace a cup of butter with 3/4 cup of pureed banana in your cookie recipe.
And of course, what goes better with a cookie than an ice-cold beverage? Cascade Ice Sparkling Water comes in 18 flavor combinations to complement your favorite kind of cookie. Check out our full flavor lineup here!
Will you be enjoying cookies today? What kind? Tell us in the comments below, or share a photo of your own healthy ingredient swap! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Looking for something new to make for your Thanksgiving dinner guests that isn’t the “same old, same old?” We have the perfect cocktail for you – something that is festive, but still low in calories and sugar. After you try it, you’ll want to enjoy it all season long!
Sparkling Vodka Cranberry Quencher
1 shot vodka
2 shots (3 oz.) cranberry juice
Splash of lime juice
Fresh lime slices
Cascade Ice Sparkling Water in Cranberry Pomegranate
Fresh or sugared cranberries
Ice
In a large shaker with ice, combine vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice and shake. Pour over more ice, and top with Cascade Ice Sparkling Water in Cranberry Pomegranate. Add desired amount of cranberries or fresh mint sprigs to the top of glass, and garnish with a fresh lime slice. Enjoy with or without the vodka!
What is your favorite holiday cocktail or mocktail? Tell us in the comments below, or share a photo of your own concoction! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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The holiday season is the easiest time to fall out of our healthy routines. After all, it’s tempting to overindulge in all the wonderful food, and become sedentary when temperatures drop. Here are a few tips that will help you enjoy all of the best parts of the holidays without putting your health goals on the back burner until the new year.
Remember your motivation
What made you embark on a healthy living journey in the first place? It’s helpful to remind yourself daily of why you make these choices, whether it’s a small goal such as taking a daily walk, or a bigger goal like living a longer life. Try to remember the day you set your goal and how you felt, and what your hopes were. Sometimes our brains need to look back in order to keep moving forward!
Don’t let temporary indulgences turn into derailment
Falling off the wagon happens to everyone, especially during the holidays. Just because you enjoyed some treats or a break in activity doesn’t mean you should beat yourself up over it. Instead, channel your energy into getting back to it when you can!
Mix it up!
Maybe you’re tired of the healthy lunch you’ve been packing for the last several months or you’re getting bored with your typical exercise routine. Try mixing things up with a new recipe for a healthy drink from Cascade Ice Water, a health-conscious indulgence, or a new group exercise class. You’ll be surprised at how a small difference can make a big change for you mentally.
What are some ways you keep on track with your health goals during the holiday season? Share your ideas in the comments below, and “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Most people think of springtime when they envision the perfect picnic, but if you have all the right elements in play, you can enjoy a perfect picnic in Autumn too! So, what does it take to have an enjoyable feast outside when the leaves are turning colors? Popular lifestyle influencer, Peach in Seattle, gives us some tips!
Location
Pick a location where you know what to expect, like whether it’s setting up on the grass or under covered picnic tables. This will make things tremendously easier and help you pack lightly for your outside time. Plus, you can pick a location that caters to your crowd like a playground for kiddos.
Drinks
If you could only bring one thing with you, it should be a beverage! Whether it’s hot or cold. This time, I decided to bring Cascade Ice Sparkling Water with caffeine. I grabbed them because they’re all natural and wanted a bit of caffeine for a pick-me-up.
Snacks
Again, know your audience and pack snacks you know they (and you) will enjoy. I didn’t want to do a full grocery haul and stuck with purchasing only two additional items from the store. Everything else I already had at home! Fruit and cheese or charcuterie plates are a great way to go… and I’ve even seen some char-treaterie plates!
What are some “must-have” items you bring to a picnic? Share your ideas and photos with us, and “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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