Holiday Treats That you’ll Love (And you’re Teeth, Too!)

Let this sentence sink in for a moment before you continue reading: The Holidays are here! Welcome to the most magnificent time of the year! The holiday season is a time to enjoy the company of friends and family, make lasting memories, and savor great food. From pumpkin pie to roasted turkey and scrumptious casseroles, the holidays are filled with great tasting goodies that we only get to enjoy once a year. But if we’re not careful, we can consume way too much sugar during the holidays. Too much sugar isn’t great for your teeth, so we’ve listed some of our favorite teeth-friendly holiday goodies below. We’re sure that you and your teeth will love them!

Cranberry Sauce

An often-overlooked side dish, cranberry sauce is a staple for any Thanksgiving dinner table. Fresh cranberry sauce can be a perfect complement to those savory Thanksgiving dishes. If you’re looking to add a new element to your Thanksgiving dinner, then ditch the store bought cans of cranberry sauce. They’re usually packed with sugar and other unhealthy preservatives anyways. Start by using fresh cranberries. Then, experiment by adding some fresh cinnamon, ginger, and orange zest to give your cranberry sauce some holiday spice. Use a drizzle of fresh honey instead of sugar to add a little sweetness. Just like that, you’ve improved an important side dish without using sugar! For more info, check out this recipe for spiced cranberry sauce from Yummly.

Mini Pumpkin Pies

No holiday meal is complete without pumpkin pie, right? If you simply can’t think of a better way to finish your holiday meal than with some pumpkin pie, then present your pie in a new and fun way. Katie Kackenmeister, who writes for Prevention Magazine has a great recipe for mini pumpkin pies that will surely delight your sweet tooth without adding a boatload of sugar! This fun recipe uses 2/3 cup of brown sugar, which is a better option than refined white sugar, for the entire 12 servings. These mini pumpkin pies are also packed with healthy ingredients like Greek yogurt, wheat germ, and flaxseed as well! Who knew that eating dessert could be healthy?

Low Sugar Gingerbread Men

Gingerbread men are one of the classic holiday symbols. Making gingerbread men every year is a holiday tradition for lots of families. So, how can you make these tasty little guys without using the excess sugar? Search no more! We’ve found a great recipe for you to try! This recipe calls for all natural steviva to substitute for sugar. Hey, they’re also gluten free, which is a plus if you’re trying to cut back on wheat products.

The holidays bring joy in many different ways. Delicious food is part of the way we celebrate, but often overindulge in foods that aren’t so great for our bodies, including our teeth. Using these recipes will help you indulge while also limiting your sugar intake. Have a happy holiday season!

For more advice on ways to keep your pearly whites in tip-top shape this holiday season, please visit www.patricktomsdmd.com