Fit And Happy: A Healthy St. Nicholas Day

Santa without sweet treats? Inconceivably! But it's also healthy. Try our recipes for nutritious cookies, chocolates and snacks.

We use natural sweeteners, whole wheat flour and lots of nuts and fruits. So the enjoyment remains, but the guilty conscience stays away.We also have a few tips to make St. Nicholas Day active and relaxing.

Healthy Treats: Sweets Reinvented

Nutty Date Balls

A perfect mix of dates, nuts and spices - sweet and completely without added sugar.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1 cup mixed nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, cashews)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
• A pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut or cocoa powder for rolling

Preparation:

Preparing the dates : Soak the dates in warm water for about 10 minutes if they are very hard. Then drain well and dry.

Chop nuts : Place the nuts in a blender or food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. They should not be ground too finely to retain a good texture.

Add dates: Add the soaked dates, cinnamon, cardamom and a pinch of salt. Mix everything until a sticky mass forms. If the mixture is too dry, you can add a few teaspoons of water.

Form balls: Take small portions of the mixture and roll them into balls with your hands. Depending on the size, the mixture should make around 10-15 balls

Roll in shredded coconut or cocoa powder: Roll the balls in shredded coconut or cocoa powder until they are completely coated.

Chill: Place the balls in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up.

Enjoy: The date nut balls are now ready to enjoy! They can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.

These nutty date balls are not only delicious, but also a healthy snack that provides energy. Enjoy them as a small, sweet snack between meals or as an energy-rich treat after exercise!

Whole Grain Gingerbread

Refined with whole wheat flour and honey, these gingerbread cookies are not only delicious but also nutritious.

Ingredients:

• 250g wholemeal flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp gingerbread spice
• 1 pinch of salt
• 100g honey
• 50g brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 50 g butter (melted)
• 2 tbsp milk (or a dairy-free alternative)

Optional: icing or dark chocolate to decorate

Directions:

Preparation: 

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, mix whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, gingerbread spice and salt.

Add wet ingredients: In another bowl, stir together honey, brown sugar, egg, melted butter and milk until well combined.

Make the dough: Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix everything into a smooth dough. If the dough is too dry, add a little more milk.

Roll out the dough: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is about 5mm thick.

Cut out shapes: Use gingerbread shapes to cut out figures and place them on the baking sheet. Depending on the size, the dough makes around 20 to 24 gingerbread cookies.

Bake: Bake the gingerbread cookies for about 10-12 minutes, until they are firm and slightly brown around the edges.

Cooling and Decorating: Allow the gingerbread cookies to cool completely before decorating them with icing or melted dark chocolate as desired.

Tips:

For a vegan version, you can use a flaxseed egg 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water and plant-based butter and milk.

You can also let the dough rest in the fridge for a few hours or overnight to intensify the flavors.Enjoy your meal and have fun baking your whole grain gingerbread!

Healthy Chocolate Santa Clauses

Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content and a touch of cinnamon make these little figures a healthy treat.

Ingredients

• 200 g high-quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa content)
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

Optional: chopped nuts, dried fruits, chia seeds or hemp seeds for decoration

Directions:

Melt the chocolate: Break the dark chocolate into small pieces and place them in a heatproof bowl. Add the coconut oil. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler or on low heat in the microwave until completely melted and smooth. Stir in the cinnamon.

Prepare Santa Claus molds: If you have a Santa Claus silicone mold, use that. If not, you can also use small muffin cups or ice cube trays. Spray the molds lightly with a non-stick spray or wipe them with a little coconut oil.

Pour the chocolate: Carefully pour the melted chocolate into the molds. Try to distribute the chocolate evenly so that all the molds are filled to the top.

Decorate: If you want, sprinkle chopped nuts, dried fruits, chia seeds or hemp seeds over the still liquid chocolate. This not only gives the chocolate Santa Clauses an additional taste, but also an interesting texture.

Cooling: Place the molds in the refrigerator and allow the chocolate to chill for at least 2 hours or until completely hardened.

Serving: After the chocolate has completely hardened, you can carefully remove the chocolate Santa Clauses from the molds. You are now ready to enjoy!

These healthy chocolate Santa Clauses are a wonderful way to enjoy the holidays without sacrificing healthy eating. Have fun preparing and snacking!

Stay Active : Fun Fitness Ideas

St. Nicholas Day is the perfect occasion to stay active. Plan a fun winter activity outside or a playful fitness session at home. Here are a few ideas:

Winter hike: Grab your loved ones and discover nature in winter clothing. A hike is not only good for the body, but also for the soul.

Dance party in the living room: Put together a playlist with your favorite songs and dance yourself fit.

St. Nicholas-themed yoga session: Try yoga poses that are reminiscent of winter motifs, such as the tree or the star.

Enjoy Consciously: Strategies Against Overeating

Enjoyment without regret is possible. Here are a few tips on how to keep feasting on St. Nicholas Day healthy:

Portion control: Enjoy your treats, but watch the quantity. Small portions help you keep track.

Eat slowly: Take your time with each meal and snack. Eating slowly improves digestion and satiety.

Balanced meals: Make sure your main meals are balanced. Protein, vegetables and whole grain products should not be missing.

Santa Claus come to our house...

With these tips you can enjoy St. Nicholas Day in a healthy and active way. It's not about foregoing traditions, but about making them health-conscious.

Santa without sweet treats? Inconceivably! But it's also healthy. Try our recipes for nutritious cookies, chocolates and snacks. We use natural sweeteners, whole wheat flour and lots of nuts and fruits. So the enjoyment remains, but the guilty conscience stays away.

Another sweet item is here..