My daughter Bodhi celebrated her 3rd birthday with an entire house of children and adults. We had a fireman and fairy party. It was as wild as it sounds. I had promised myself that I would keep things simple this year in terms of food (juggling the Nourishing hub and two children under three). I had good intentions, but I’ve finally realized that I cannot do simple. I should stop trying.
This year, I decided to eliminate all refined sugars. I’m not a militant about being sugar-free. I enjoy chocolate and decadent desserts on occasion, but we consume very little sugar on a daily basis. In recent years, we have become accustomed to sweetening things with natural sweeteners or fruits. We don’t miss sugary treats.
One parent commented that the food was very good. Another said, “Oh my goodness the kids will be climbing the walls with all this sweet stuff.” So the food certainly looked great. My husband asked Bodhi at the end of the party what she enjoyed most about the day. She replied, “eating Mummy’s food” – so the food must tasted good too.
Here’s what Nourishing Hub has prepared for this year’s refined sugar-free holiday party…
Raw cacao bliss ballsThis recipe is one of the old favorites and is packed with nuts, seeds, and Superfoods. They are easy to make ahead and freeze until needed.
Rainbow Fruit Platter
I don’t think I invented this – but I did see a picture on my internet travels. I thought it was an excellent way to showcase fresh fruit. I used strawberries, grapes, mandarins, and pineapple.
Coconut Bounty Balls
As you may know, these are currently my favorite treats to make. (As I mentioned in the blog last Sunday) Maybe it’s because they’re so good for you and everyone loves them! Hubby claims that he has tried all of my recipes, and these are his favorite. Rice Syrup is used in this recipe as a low-fructose sugar substitute.
Organic Popcorn
I’m not certain if I would recommend popping corn or not. After the party, our living room carpet looked as if there had been an extreme snowstorm because there was so much popcorn on the floor. I’d suggest serving small cups of popcorn sprinkled with Himalayan salt if this isn’t an issue. Pre-party popcorn is a great way to get the kids involved.
Mini Frittatas
Frittatas are a staple in our home. Mini Frittatas are a great way to provide a healthy snack. In this recipe, I combined pumpkin, feta, spinach, and smoked salmon.
Sugar-Free Zucchini Cake and Chocolate Cake (Paleo/Gluten-Free)
This cake ticked every box for me. I’ve tried a variety of sugar-free and gluten-free cakes with mixed results. Some are too dry, heavy, or not sweet enough. But this one was perfect. The Healthy Foodie’s recipe for a decadent, rich chocolate cake was moist, delicious, and very tasty. The icing was made with date paste in place of sugar, and I loved it. My recipe did not include the syrup or coffee. I made two batches of the cake and decorated them with bee pollen and goji berries.
Homemade pumpkin Hummus and Veggies
You can always have a few savory snacks for adults and kids. You can buy hummus if you are short on time, but make sure it is free of preservatives and other additives. This recipe is easy to make and yields a large batch.
Orange Jellies Made with Agar Agar
Nicky, a friend who’s always a great inspiration in the kitchen and introduced me to this wonderful recipe, made these for Bodhi’s birthday. We used this recipe but left out the sweetener. You can substitute rice syrup or even coconut sugar. Agar Agar, a gelatine-like powder made from seaweeds, can be used in all sorts of recipes and raw desserts instead of gelatine.
Cacao Bomb Crackles
These chocolate crackles are a great addition to any party. They taste like the ones you remember from childhood but in a healthier form! This recipe is from Lee Holme’s Supercharged Food for Kids. Here is the recipe. In a previous blog, Lee shared with The Nourishing some of her recipes.