Most of these are really easy and relatively low cal. During family holidays its always hard to stay healthy during all the festivities and with all the food laying around. Don’t get me wrong, I love normal old fashioned cake, but with so many unhealthy dishes it might be a good idea to make one or 5 of them that are healthier. Some of the recipe’s aren’t strictly Paleo as Paleo doesn’t call for the use of sugars. In addition if you’re not on a Paleo diet but want to try some of the recipe’s as a healthier option you can most definitely try it.

Pumpkin pie

Its really easy to make and sometimes I even mix equal amounts of pumpkin and sweet potato (yams) to get a pie higher in carbs for the days I do high intensity training and need some more carbs. This recipe is both Paleo and vegan friendly.

INGREDIENTS

• Crust:  1 1/4 Cups Walnuts or Pecans

• 1 Cup of Chestnut or Almond Flour

• 1 Egg White

• Sprinkle of salt. (I like to add in a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon here)

  Filling:

• 1 1/2 Cups Pumpkin Puree (Roast your leftover pumpkin and blend it) or use 1 full can.
• 2/3 Cup of Walnuts1/3 Cup Cashews
• 3 Eggs and 1 Egg White
• 1/4 Cup Honey + 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup (Or for indulgence, go for 1/2 cup Maple and reduce the water to 3/4 cup)
• 1 Cup Water
• Spice Mix: 1 tsp Ginger, 1 tsp Allspice, 1 tsp Nutmeg, 1/2 tsp Cloves, 1/2 tsp Cardamon, 1/4 tsp salt
• Vegans Omit the eggs and water, Add 1/2 cup Soy/almond milk and 2 TB cornstarch and 1 tsp Arrowroot.

Full instructions at wholefoods.heartspacedundee.co.uk

Raw Apple Pie with Paleo Whipped Cream

Who doesn’t like apple pie. With this Paleo inspired recipe you can keep the calories down, for those on a calorie restrictive diet(not necessarily just for Paleo followers), while getting your daily dose of apples. An apple a day keeps the doctor away…

INGREDIENTS.

For the Crust

• ½ cup raw almonds
• ½ cup raw cashews
• ½ cup raw macadamias
• 3/4 cup pitted dates
• 1 teaspoon each cinnamon, ground cloves and ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange juice

Filling

• 6 apples, peeled  (cut 1 of the apples into ½ inch chunks, thinly slice the other 5). I used Pippin apples but Granny Smith or other baking apple would work just fine.
• 1 cup of pitted dates that have been soaked in apple juice for 30 minutes, then drain the juice into a small measuring cup
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ground
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 medium orange, seeded, peeled and pulled apart into segments

Full instructions at nutritionyoucantrust

Strawberry Cheesecake (non-dairy and Paleo)

Who doesn’t love a diet where you can still have cheesecake, even if it is dairy free.

INGREDIENTS

• 150g (2 cups) finely shredded unsweetened coconut
• 100g (1 cup) raw hazelnuts, finely ground
• 35g (1/4 cup) coconut flour
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
• 2 tbsp raw honey, melted
• 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
• 1 tsp Himalayan salt
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp ground Ceylon cinnamon

• 300g (2 cups) raw cashew pieces, soaked overnight
• 1 cup full fat coconut milk
• 500g (1.1lb) raw cauliflower, grated
• 1 cup raw honey, melted
• ¾ cup coconut oil
• 1 tsp Himalayan salt
• ½ tsp ground Ceylon cinnamon
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 6 large eggs
• the juice and zest of 1 lemon
• ¼ cup tapioca flour

• 4 + 1 cups fresh strawberries, stems removed
• 1 tablespoon grassfed gelatin
• ½ cup cold water
• ½ cup water
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or raw honey
• pinch Himalayan salt
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Full instructions at the healthy foodie

Paleo Brownies

• 57 grams (1/2 cup) finely ground almond flour
• 50 grams (1/2 cup) Dutch-process cocoa powder* (see note above)
• 85 grams (1/2 cup) coconut sugar or evaporated cane juice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, homemade or grain-free store-bought
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 113 grams (about 2/3 cup) chopped dairy-free dark chocolate or chips, melted
• 57 grams (1/4 cup) coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 85 grams (1/4 cup) honey
• 3 large eggs (about 150 grams out of the shell)

Full instructions on glutenfreebaking.com

Snickers Pie

(Raw, Vegan, Gluten + Grain Free, Refined Sugar Free)

• 5 tbsp cocoa powder
• 12 Medjool dates, pitted
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 c nut of choice (I like cashews and almonds best, with walnuts shortly behind – you can even MIX nuts if you’re CRAZY)
• 1 c unsweetened dried coconut
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 10 Medjool dates, pitted, soaked in boiling water for 10 min and then drained
• 3 tsp ghee or coconut oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp unsalted almond butter

• 2 cans full-fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
• 3/4 c peanut butter, almond butter or nut butter of choice
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch sea salt

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate of choice, for drizzling (optional)

Full instructions at sproutedroots.com