WRITTEN BY RENZNEIL ROBLES
The heart of the holiday season is the joy of savoring our culinary favorites. We may not have the grandest celebration, but a complete treat to our stomachs makes every event genuine, happy, and meaningful. Sadly, the downside of eating freely is the guilt that comes at the cost of temporarily setting aside our health commitments.
But before your conscience whispers, remember that maintaining your wellness goals should not equate to depriving yourself of satisfaction. A little shift in perspective and the right approach can let you still live a health-conscious lifestyle and yet appreciate delectable dishes whenever you want.
For instance, here is a selection of guilt-free recipes for relishing the holidays without reservations:
BodyKey Berry Yogurt
Yield: 3 servings
Prep Time: 3-5 mins
You’ll need:
- 1 pouch BodyKey™ Meal Replacement Shake (Berry)
- 1 tbsp Chopped Nuts
- 1 pc Banana (sliced)
- 250g Greek Yogurt
- 2 tbsp Milk
BodyKey™ is an effective meal replacement shake and a competent companion to sustainable weight transformation. But not known to most, it can also be the star ingredient to make tasty treats that require minimal effort. For example, you can use it to elevate your regular yogurt into an extra exciting breakfast, snack, or dessert!
Begin by mixing a pouch of BodyKey™ Meal Replacement Shake (Berry), Greek Yogurt, and your milk of choice in a large bowl. Transfer the mixture into smaller bowls, then top with chopped nuts and banana. This simple recipe only has 165 calories per serving and can delight tummies of all ages, both kids and adults.
BodyKey Choco Balls
Yield: 15-20 pcs
Prep Time: 5 min
You’ll need:
- 1 pouch BodyKey™ Meal Replacement Shake (Chocolate)
- 1 1⁄2 cup Rolled Oats
- 1 cup Peanut Butter
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 1⁄2 cup Chopped Nuts
As tempting as chocolates can be, they are the opposite of an ally to our healthy diet. Thus, it is good to know that BodyKey™ offers its chocolate-flavored meal replacement shake as a healthier alternative to fulfill our cravings. It is also the perfect component to create delicious choco balls that contain only about 80 calories per serving.
Mix a pouch of BodyKey™ Meal Replacement Shake (Chocolate) with rolled oats, peanut butter, and honey. Knead until the mixture smoothens to your liking before scooping spoonful sizes to form a ball. Garnish with nuts and serve. You can pair these BodyKey Choco Balls with warm milk for a fuller experience.
BodyKey Café Crispies
Yield: 3 servings
Prep Time: 3-5 mins
You’ll need:
- 1 pouch BodyKey™ Meal Replacement Shake (Café Latte)
- 3 cups Rice Crisps
- 1⁄4 cup Peanut Butter
- 3 tbsp Honey
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
We sometimes want a more nutritious snack that is as flavorful. If that is the case for you, a healthier take on the traditional rice crispies would be a fancy idea. No worries, it has the same goodness in every crunchy bite but with a unique twist brought by BodyKey™ Meal Replacement Shake in café latte flavor, another crowd favorite.
Prepare your single pouch of BodyKey™ Meal Replacement Shake (Café Latte) along with rice crisps, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract in their exact measurements. Incorporate all these ingredients in a large bowl and let sit for a few minutes before serving into small cups. A single portion of this café crispies is enriched with 285 calories.
Phyto Cherry Tonic
Yield: 1 Serving
Prep Time: 3-5 mins
You’ll need:
- 1 serving Nutrilite™ PhytoPowder™ Defend Cherry
- 200ml Plain Tonic Water
- 50ml Cold Water
- 1 pc Lemon
- Mint Leaves
- Ice Cubes
Aside from desserts and snacks, what you drink also affects your health agenda. Hence, experts suggest staying away from alcohol, cutting down on soft drinks, or switching to healthy beverages like tonics for better results. But the catch with tonics is their often bitter taste, causing the need to reintroduce them in a way that is a little more enticing.
Start by grabbing some mint leaves and muddle them in a glass with cold water and lemon juice. Strain the leaves and add one serving of Nutrilite™ PhytoPowder™ Defend Cherry before filling the glass with tonic water. Toss in your ice cubes and mix to serve. About 30 calories are present in a glass of this Phyto Cherry Tonic.
BMC: Basil-Mint-Citrus
Prep Time: 3-5 mins
Yield: 1 Serving
You’ll need:
- 1 can XS™ Energy Drink - Citrus
- 1pc Orange
- Basil Leaves
- Mint Leaves
- Ice Cubes
Among many energy-boosting beverages, XS™ Energy Drink stands out for having zero sugar, no carbs or sodium, and low-calorie content. And because it has irresistible natural flavors, you know it is crafted to consume it as is. But if you want it to be extraordinary, the following recipe is a timely indication to update your holiday menu.
Using the juice of half an orange, gently crush basil and mint leaves in a glass. In a separate container, strain the mixture and place more mint leaves and segmented oranges. Put some ice and pour in one can of XS™ Energy Drink – Citrus, then stir. You can pair this refreshment of 50 calories per serving with your favorite snacks.
Low-Calorie Arancini
Yield: 20 pieces
Prep Time: 1 hour
You’ll need:
- 350g Arborio Rice
- 150g Parmesan Block
- 100g Emborg Mozzarella
- 100ml Don Garcia White Wine
- 1L Chicken Stock
- 1 pc Onion (chopped)
- 1 clove Garlic (minced)
- 100g All-Purpose Flour
- 100g Breadcrumbs
- 15g Unsalted Butter
- 2 pcs Large Eggs
- 1 tbsp Canola Oil
- 1 tsp Lemon Zest
- Salt and Pepper
Arancini refers to the Italian rice balls usually served as snacks, appetizers, or as part of other meals. But because the classic recipe includes a combination of rice, cheese, meat, and vegetables, it is not exactly a healthy indulgence. So, here is a way to recreate the traditional Sicilian dish with only 129 calories per serving:
Sauté onions and garlic in butter, then toast arborio rice. Deglaze with white wine and simmer to reduce to half before pouring in chicken stock to cook rice. After cooling in the refrigerator, shape the rice balls and use cubed mozzarella for filling. Coat with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, then deep fry in 170°C hot oil.
Low-Calorie Pot Roast
Yield: 8-10 servings
Prep Time: 2-3 hours
You’ll need:
- 1 kg Chuck Rib
- 500g Potatoes (quartered)
- 4 Medium-sized Carrots (diced)
- 5 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 2 White Onions (minced)
- 4 stalks Celery (minced)
- 200 ml Red Wine
- 1 ½ liter Beef Stock
- 1 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tbsp Canola oil
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp Rosemary Leaves
- Salt and Pepper to taste
If you want to give your dining table a new look this season, it must be time to explore more food options than your staple local delicacies. Something as elaborate as Pot Roast would add a sophisticated touch to every holiday feast, but our version with only 201 calories per serving is simplified and healthier.
Season your beef chuck with flour, salt, and pepper. Sear until browned, then set aside. In the same pot, sauté half a portion of the carrots and onion with garlic, rosemary leaves, and celery. Add tomato paste, then mix before deglazing with red wine. Pour in the stock and return the roast to cook for at least two hours on medium-high heat. Once nearly tender, add the remaining carrots and onions. Finish cooking without the lid to thicken the sauce.
