How to Enjoy Christmas Cookies but Not Eat Too Many

December 16, 2021 By Marcia Pell 2 Comments

Even when you have diabetes, you can enjoy Christmas cookies. The challenge is not eating too many. Here are Tips for not eating too many cookies.

I’ve been making Christmas cookies ever since I was a young teen. In the early days my sister and I would make cutouts and decorate them with Mom’s help. Over the years we would add other types of cookies to the yearly tradition. We had an active family of 8 and it was impossible to eat too many cookies back then.

When I had my own daughter I was so excited to pass on the tradition of baking Christmas cookies. I had Norman Rockwell images in my head. Annie was 2 years old when we started and it was a disaster that first year. I was a new mother with no clue and she would just grab the dough to eat it. We’ve been baking cookies ever since and it is a joy and beautiful connection between us. We still make several kinds and have our favorites. Annie is just finishing her first semester away in college and we have a “bake date” this weekend. Can’t wait! But we do not have a family of 8 and I eat too many every year!

I am determined not to eat too many this year. Here’s my plan:

I’m deciding how many to eat on “bake day”. For me it’ll be 2 per recipe.
We’re packaging them up to give away as they cool.
We’re giving most away.
I will not keep them in big tins on the counter to eat as I walk by! I will put them out of sight.
I will allow myself 2 a day this season, and savor every bite.

Here’s one of my favorite recipes that I’ve been making for many years. I love the texture! It was the first cookie recipe I had seen using liquid oil, which is healthier than butter. Even healthy fats are high in calories so I cut the amount of oil down from 1 1/2 cups in the original recipe to save 962 calories!

Ginger Balls Recipe

No foods are off limits when you have diabetes or want to have a healthy lifestyle. Download my FREE guide How to Eat When You Have Diabetes…and Still Enjoy Your Favorite Foods.

Comments

Kathy Colaiacovo says

December 22, 2021 at 9:57 pm

This is the best GInger cookie recipe I have ever made!!! I dipped mine in candy cane crumbs not sugar and they came out soo beautiful with the red and white melted on top. Very Christmassy! Did some plain as well and my fussy teen loved them too!

Reply
- Marcia Pell says
  
  December 23, 2021 at 7:47 am
  
  What a great idea to use crushed candy canes! I froze some of the dough after rolling it into balls so we can enjoy one at a time this winter. So glad you found a new favorite Kathy! Happy holidays!
  
  Reply

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