In Season: NYE Apps & Sweets

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And here we are at the end of 2020! This year has been nothing less than taxing for everyone, in one way or another. As we roll into a new year and begin thinking about upcoming plans, goals, and New Year’s resolutions, we are still left to tackle one last task for the year: New Year’s Eve parties!

While the parties might be small this year, consisting of just you and your family, that’s no excuse for skimping on the appetizers and sweets to celebrate!

If you’re looking to party while adding in a lot of nutrition, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve done some of the leg work for you and will get the celebratory mood set right as you go into 2021 healthy and strong!

 

Scroll down for the top 3 plant-based treats that I’ll be whipping up for this NYE celebration:

Brought to you by: Maria Marlowe

Recipe: Spicy Cauliflower Poppers with Creamy Cashew dipping sauce

What I love:

  • Spicy and packed with flavor, easy assembly and dipping sauce is always a good idea!


  • Cauliflower is an excellent source for vitamins C, K and B6. It is high in folate, biotin and fiber. It contains omega-3 fatty acids too (1).


  • Himalayan pink salt has a rich mineral content with up to 84 trace minerals, is less processed than table salt and contains electrolytes (2).


  • Cashews are a good source of unsaturated fat and plant-based protein. Many studies link nut consumption with a reduced risk of various chronic diseases. (3)


Brought to you by: Helen @ Tartelette

Recipe: Tomatoes and Roasted Garlic Tartines

What I love:

  • Six ingredients, can easily be multiplied to accommodate more guests, incorporates crunchy and soft textures, few tools needed to create, and easy assembly once the roasting is finished.


  • These can be made gluten free too! Udi’s and Schar brands have a gluten free French loaf that you can toast and slice.

  • Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene which gives them strong antioxidant power. Roasting tomatoes actually increases the antioxidant levels (4).


  • Garlic contains allicin which is known to decrease LDL cholesterol, act as an anti-inflammatory and is an anti-aging agent. (5)


 

Brought to you by: Simply Taralynn

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut bites

What I love:

  • Two ingredients (chocolate chips and pre-made trail mix), short prep time, few tools needed to prepare, and easy clean up.


  • There are sweet & salty flavors paired together and it can be made dairy free and/or low sugar, depending on brand of chocolate chips used. ENJOY has dairy free options and Lily’s has amazing chocolate sweetened with stevia!


  • The dark chocolate and berries (whether cranberries, acai, goji or blueberries in your trail mix) make this a recipe that is super high in antioxidants, offering disease protection and prevention against cell damage.


  • Dark chocolate is also a food high in magnesium - one of the main nutrients we need for a majority of our bodily processes.


NEXT STEPS:

 Check out the Aspen Wellness Pinterest boards for more healthy snack ideas.

 

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References:

    1.     (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2017, from http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=13


    2.     Price, A. (2017, June 20). Pink Himalayan Salt Benefits that Make It Superior to Table Salt. Retrieved November 30, 2017, from https://draxe.com/pink-himalayan-salt/


    3.     Babcock, J. (2017, June 21). Cashews Nutrition: Helps Prevent Cancer, Diabetes & More. Retrieved November 30, 2017, from https://draxe.com/cashews-nutrition/


    4.     N. (2002, April 21). Cooking tomatoes boosts health benefits. Retrieved November 30, 2017, from https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2002/04/22/Cooking-tomatoes-boosts-health-benefits


         5.      Brannon, C. A. (2013). Phytochemicals. In Functional Foods Part I: Legumes, Grains, Fruits & Vegetables (pp. 87-101). OnCourse Learning Corporation.


Eat WellAlecia Ritzema