Making Healthier Choices at your Next Birthday Party
Today I am featuring a guest post from blogger Maddy Olson!
Maddy Olson blogs on a variety of subjects that are deep topics and can change lives. Writing for the boys’ birthday party supplier Party Pail is a very rewarding passion she enjoys. Having four sons of her own has prompted her write about the parties she has planned and hosted.We live in a day and age where our food doesn’t always agree with our bodies. Food has become harder and harder for us to break down. But with so many allergies and different diet plans, where does one begin to make changes that encourage a healthier body? When one finds the perfect combination, how does one stay on the wagon? And even more bothersome sometimes, how does one eat healthy and still have treats at times of celebration like holidays and birthdays?
Believe me when I tell you it is possible to eat well and have tasty goodies that are very close to being as healthy as it gets and not giving yourself away. It is hard enough to get kids to eat better and make smart choices when you aren’t around to police them much less when you tell them you are making all healthy food for their party. That will lead to an absolute feud before they even know what you are making. The trick is to choose wisely and make the goodies yourself.
We follow the Paleo lifestyle pretty closely. I mean, I cook without dairy and grains. If you think back to a time when man was first roaming the planet, they hunted their food. They harvested berries and nuts and ate plants. It was not a time of manufactured and mass produced food. They were a healthier people who were actively taking care of themselves and working hard to survive. They did not clog their bodies with chemicals that are difficult to pronounce. So, we adopted this way of cooking, meats, fruits and veggies, and nuts. Dark chocolate is allowed in moderation. But there are many sources on cleaning up your diet this way…I’m here to share how to make the goodies for your next party!
Try making the following and packaging them in paper bags that can be recycled or small jars that you can re-purpose.
- Almond, cashew, or hazelnut chocolate clusters(made with melted dark chocolate mixed with nuts and dropped on parchment paper)
- Chocolate and coconut bars
- Homemade Luna Bars
- Candied walnuts or pecans
- Paleo chocolate chip cookies or brownies
- Honey glazed baked fruit
- Homemade grain-free granola
But what about the cake? Do you have to go without the cake too? I will throw in a great recipe for a chocolate cake! It works well with the body to keep insulin spikes to a minimum.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup coconut flour
- ¾ Cup cacao powder (unsweetened cocoa powder works too)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 9 Eggs
- ¾ Cup coconut oil, melted
- ¾ Cup coconut syrup
- ¾ Cup water or coffee
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line or grease two 8” round cake pans (use coconut oil).
- Mix coconut flour, cacao, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- In another bowl, use a mixer to beat eggs until fluffy.
- Add the oil, syrup, water, and vanilla and mix well.
- Add in the dry ingredients from the other bowl and mix on high for about two minutes.
- Divide the batter into the two prepared pans, evenly.
- Cook for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
- Cool 10 minutes, then turn them out to cool completely.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups dark chocolate
- 2/3 Cup coconut oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler with the oil.
- Add vanilla.
- Refrigerate about 30 minutes until thick.
- Beat the frosting for a fluffy and light texture.
Thank you so much to Maddy for sharing these ideas and recipes with us!
Would you like to guest post for Dakotapam.com? Guest post inviteI am currently accepting guest posts for recipes, tutorials or how-tos that fit the tone of Dakotapam.com. All submissions must be original and only published on Dakotapam.com All content becomes the editorial property of Dakotapam.com. Contact me at dakotapam@gmail.com for more information or to submit content.
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As I am sitting here munching on leftover party food………..what a timely post!
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Twitter: MOLM2011
Wonderful post about eating healthy. Thanks a lot for sharing your great knowledge in terms of eating. I liked it very much.
You are welcome!
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It’s a great idea to serve some healthy food at a children’s birthday party, but one thing to bear in mind is that children are messy. Adults are usually fine with fancy dips, salads and yoghurts, but children will spill all of that. Try to think of some healthy stuff that doesn’t create a massive mess.
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