BEING GLUTEN FREE AT CHRISTMAS
I particularly love Christmas. As a child Christmas Day was all about having an entire day with family and friends and an endless supply of great food – aaaalll day long.
I now have my own little family and I still feel the same way, however with a slightly greater emphasis on being prepared due to catering for Alyssia and her coeliac diet. Christmas involves entertaining with family you don’t always see very often, impromptu parties, and eating around friends’ homes. It’s easy when you relax to become complacent and others most certainly will forget. As Alyssia is still so young we need to be particularly vigilant to ensure Alyssia isn’t gluten over the holidays.
It comforts me to feel prepared with some healthy, festive treats. Here are a few fun, simple, no-fuss ideas that I found and used last year.
Watermelon Christmas Trees
Ingredients: Watermelon, Greek Yoghurt, Cranberries, and Choco chips (optional).
Simply cut watermelon rind to shape as a tree, add Greek yogurt and cranberries and freeze!! Okay – we also added chocolate chips to ours. They were popular with all the kids who visited!!
Bliss Balls
Ingredients:
12 Medjool dates
1/2 cup Coles Shredded Coconut
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup cacao powder
1 tablespoon chia seeds
Note: Coeliac need to check the packaging for a ‘may contain gluten warning’. I have featured some GF brands if you scroll down below.
Step 1: Soak the dates for 1 hour to soften them.
Step 1: Drain the dates and then process with cacao powder and shredded coconut.
Step 3: Roll into balls and let stand before coating in extra shredded coconut.
I’ll make a big batch of bliss balls because they are always a hit, however, you can also buy similar ready made ones here. Bounce Superberry Balls will store well and are packaged separately so are easy to take out with you.
Grinch Fruit Kebabs
Ingredients: Grapes, strawberries, large marshmallows and mini marshmallows.
Just one step – pop them on a cocktail stick!
We have substituted the larger marshmallow on the hat for a sliced banana before too.
Snowman Snack Cups
Ingredients: Popcorn, shredded coconut, mini marshmallows.
Now, these will be perfect for Christmas movie night and easily gluten free snack.
Just toss Mini GF marshmallows, Cobs GF Popcorn, and shredded coconut in a cup. Decorate with pen and red string.
Chocolate Fudge Mug
Although our friends are aware of Alyssias coeliac diet I still prefer to be prepared by taking my own gluten-free desserts/items for parties just in case.
Melinda’s Gluten-Free Goodies – Choc Fudge Mug Brownie mix is a firm favourite because I can just take the box with me. If I need an emergency dessert it’s ready in just 1 minute! No-fuss or messing up the kitchen.
Gluten-free products associated with these recipes can be found below
I hope you liked these ideas, feel free to share!
– Michelle at Love Your Health
SHOP THE INGREDIENTS HERE:
EasiYo Yogurt Greek Style Unsweetened No Added Sugar Yogurt (170g)
Bounce Superberry Balls G/F 12x42g
Sweet William Baking Chocolate Chips (150g)
Eskal Foods Marshmallow Pink&White (180g)
Melrose Full Flavour Coconut Oil Organic (325ml)
Cobs Natural Sweet As Popcorn G F (12x110g)
Niulife Shredded Coconut (250g)
Lotus Cacao Powder Raw Organic (250g)
Melindas Gluten Free Goodies Choc Fudge Mug Brownie Pre-Mix (200g)
Sources: Healthy Little Foodies, Eats Amazing
