Whether they come pre-packaged on a dessert tray or freshly baked on a platter, cookies are bound to be present if there is a celebration in progress. Elkhaim recommends swapping your usual chocolate chip cookies for these light coconut truffles the next time you're required to bring dessert for the potluck. Not only do they completely cut out the butter and lower the high sugar content found in traditional cookie recipes and store-bought options, but they're also super easy to make (no oven required!).

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dates, pitted
• 2 cups pecans, presoaked
• 1 tbsp cacao powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1⁄2 cup dried shredded coconut

Directions

1. Throw all ingredients into a food processor and blend until the mixture becomes smooth and forms a ball.
2. Roll mixture into small balls (should yield about 36) and roll in shredded coconut for coating.

Whether it's celebrating the win of a championship sports game, a co-worker's promotion or just the end of a stressful workday, salty happy hour staples like French fries can quickly add up -- especially when they're half off regular price. And while you're watching the slow-mo replay or catching up with friends, it's hard to keep track of -- or stop -- your intake.

Before you fall into the trap, simply swap your usual order of regular fries for sweet potato fries, which are full of vitamins A, B6, and C. The best part about this swap is that this option is readily available in most restaurants and it's still crunchy and fried -- all the characteristics of the perfect happy hour plate!

If you're craving this frozen dessert, Gibson suggests making a homemade sorbet instead, by processing 2 cups of frozen berries of choice in a blender with 1 cup of filtered water, 2 tbsp. of flax oil or coconut oil, 1/4 cup of a berry blend antioxidant powder (optional) and 1/4 cup of walnuts or pecans. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, lemon extract, ground ginger or cinnamon to give your dessert more flavor, then pour into ice-cream cups and freeze.

For a chocolate craving, Gibson suggests making a health-packed chocolate mousse by blending the following together in a food processor: 3 ripe avocados, 10 soaked and pitted dates, 1 cup raw cacao powder, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, and depending on the sweetness you prefer, either 1/2 cup maple syrup or 1/3 cup honey, or no sweetener at all. To loosen consistency, add almond, hemp or coconut milk as needed, then refrigerate or freeze and enjoy!

Instead of bringing another store-bought cake for the next office birthday or at-home party, try baking your own. Why? According to both Elkaim and Gibson, small substitutions throughout traditional recipes can make all the difference and allow you to indulge on these treats instead of giving them up entirely. If you're going to ditch one ingredient, you'll want to make it sugar. "Instead of using sugar for sweetness (which sends your blood sugar soaring) try using stevia instead. Stevia has no impact on your blood sugar and thus is much better for diabetics (and pretty much everyone)," says Elkaim. Keep this in mind all the way through to the final touches. "For cakes and cupcakes, make a frosting with coconut oil instead of shortening and coconut sugar instead of regular sugar," Gibson suggests. "Add a little extra vanilla, almond, or hazelnut extract for a unique flavor and sweetness."

When it comes to celebrating, a few good toasts are in store. But after the first round, it can get harder to keep track of all the calories you're quickly consuming ... especially because it's in liquid form. Just one glass of champagne (around 4.1 fl. oz.) has 91 calories. Instead of working your way up to an entire bottle of bubbly (which rings in at about 500 calories), Gibson suggests stepping on the breaks with Kombucha, Jun, or Water Kefir. "They're all tart, bubbly, and only mildly alcoholic celebratory drinks, with probiotics to boot."

If you're clinking margaritas instead of champagne flutes, you run the risk of drinking anywhere between 200 to upwards of 500 calories, depending on the size of drink. When you're out, skip the salt and stick to sipping tequila over ice with a splash of soda throughout the night; if you're having the festivities at home, swap pre-made margarita mix with diet limeade or fresh-squeezed citrus fruits.