Diet

6 Healthy Swaps for Your Favorite Treats

Eating your feelings in good times more than bad? Reach for these healthier swaps instead of your celebratory treats

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Brownies Chocoholics may find it hard to give up this crowd-pleaser, but with a few tweaks, you may not have to. Boulder-based nutritionist Ann Aubin Gibson, M.S., CHHC suggests giving traditional brownies a makeover by "super-sizing" with your favorite protein powder (whey, pea, hemp, rice) to offset the sugar. "Replace grain flour with almond or coconut flour, and use half a cup less than the recipe calls for. Then use protein powder to make up the difference." She also recommends swapping regular milk for coconut milk and swapping vegetable oil for coconut oil. "You can even reduce the sugar by replacing a portion with mashed ripe bananas, apple sauce, or even xylitol," says Gibson. If you're feeling extra adventurous, Yuri Elkaim, nutritionist and author of "Eating for Energy," recommends giving this healthier brownie recipe based on black beans a go.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of black beans, well rinsed and drained
• 3 large eggs
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup cocoa powder
• 4 pinches stevia
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1⁄4 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Rinse and drain the black beans well
3. Add all ingredients except for chocolate chips in blender and blend until very smooth
4. Stir in chocolate chips
5. Pour batter into an 8-inch square buttered baking pan
6. Bake at 350F for 30-32 minutes
7. Brownies are ready when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean

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