‘Tis the season for eggnog, gingerbread and so many other holiday treats. For many years, my nutrition clients panicked this time of year, feeling it was extremely challenging to stay healthy. But now, there are an abundance of healthy holiday offerings —so, you can indeed have your cake (pudding, trifle, etc) and eat it, too.

Chocolate

If your dessert tastes lean in a chocolaty direction, one of my favorite healthy chocolate brands has some new holiday flavors. Hu Kitchen has both gingerbread and pumpkin spice. These have no refined sugars or bad oils, they’re also organic. Few brands are as ingredient conscious as Hu.

For a more unusual, salty-sweet option, Seed and Mill (makers of the most delicious tahini) has a limited-edition holiday gift box that includes Salted Maple Tahini Truffles. I’ll be gifting these this year...unless I eat my entire stash.

Cookies

Partake is a great brand and they have a holiday cookie this year. These cookies are gluten free, vegan and free of all major allergens.

If you’d like to do some baking yourself, Coconut Whisk has a gingerbread mix with clean, recognizable ingredients. It’s also gluten free and vegan.

Eggnog

One of my favorite nut milk brands, Milkadamia, has a “Veggnog.” (I will not tell anyone if you decide to add some “spirit” to your nog.)

To add a little holiday flavor to your coffee, check out the Nutpods winter collection with flavors like pumpkin spice, peppermint mocha, and holiday nog.

Lighter Latkes

While Christmas products get more attention. I love this recipe for cauliflower latkes. If you buy pre-riced cauliflower, they’re really easy to whip up.

Wishing you a healthy, happy holiday season. May your days be merry and bright and may all your Christmases be...light.