A Healthier Holiday Season: Part 5 with AVH Dietitians

With the holidays upon us, we turned to our very own Aspen Valley Hospital Dietitians—Kristy, Sandy and Laurie—to answer some common questions about eating healthier during the holidays. Plus, we have included some tasty recipes to try! This is the final part — thank you for reading and have a happy, healthy new year!

Our Wonderful Dietitians:

Sandra Holmes                                      Kristy Bates                                             Laureen Osier

Question:
I want to buy some healthy alternatives to use for my appetizers and desserts, but the ingredients are always really expensive. What are some ideas for alternatives to dairy and gluten that won’t break the bank?

Answer:
Unless you have Celiac, avoid products labeled “gluten-free” as they are usually more costly and sometimes worse for you health wise. Fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables are naturally healthy and always gluten- and dairy-free. Homemade hummus spreads with canned beans are inexpensive and naturally gluten free. For example, make your own corn chips using corn tortillas! They will be healthier and will save you a bundle. Everybody loves guacamole — it is easy to just mash and add a small amount of hot sauce or commercial salsa.

Recipe Ideas!

DIY Tortilla Chips:

Some Plant-based Appetizers:

Roasted Eggplant Hummus

Sweet Potato Cauliflower Cakes with Dairy-Free Cashew Sour Cream

Spicy Chocolate Cherry Bites