Make smart sweet choices this Easter
Easter is a time that families and friends come together around the table and indulge in hearty food and decadent treats. From chocolate eggs and carrot cake to hot cross buns and braai ‘vleis’.
Although balancing healthy eating over the upcoming long weekend may be tough, it is not impossible.
‘You shouldn’t have to deprive yourself of sweet treats,’ says Bianca Tromp, a Futurelife dietician.
‘Experimental studies suggest that short-term, selective food deprivation seems to increase cravings for the avoided foods. So, instead of denying yourself of your Easter favourites, you should consider swapping them out with two Smart-choice alternatives that will help you maintain balance and keep your healthy eating plan intact.’
Replace carrot cake with smart choice muffins
Makes 12 muffins
You’ll need: 200ml Futurlife Smart food (original flavour); 250ml whole wheat flour; 2.5ml salt; 20ml baking powder; 15ml sugar; 1 egg; 60ml margarine; 250ml low-fat milk; ½ cup grated carrot; ½ cup grated apple; 5ml vanilla essence; 60ml peanut butter (unsweetened).
How to:
Preheat the oven to 200°C and grease a muffin tin. Mix all the dry ingredients. Whisk egg. Add the margarine, vanilla essence and milk to the beaten egg and whisk until combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredient and fold together until just combined, fold in carrot and apple. Spoon equal amounts of batter into greased muffin tin. Spoon a teaspoon of peanut butter into each centre of the muffins. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes. Freeze in an airtight bag or enjoy fresh. * To defrost leave to thaw at room temperature.
Replace hot cross buns with smart choice crumpets
The recipe makes five crumpets
You’ll need: 150ml Futurelife Smart Food (chocolate or original flavour); 75ml water; 2 eggs; pinch of salt; ¼ teaspoon baking powder; 1 banana; 5ml oil; Optional: 1/3 cup cacao nibs or 2.5ml cinnamon.
How to:
Blend all ingredients, except oil, until smooth. Grease a non-stick frying pan with oil and heat to medium. Use a ladle to pour the mixture onto the frying pan. When bubbles on the surface start to pop, turn the crumpet over using a spatula and cook the other side.