How To Celebrate A Special Occasion With Teeth-Friendly Foods

Often, we think that delicious, unhealthy foods are a way to mark a celebration.

Chocolates for anniversaries, fried foods for birthdays, and soda for special occasions are some of the ways we are all guilty of indulging. But with our dental and overall health in mind, it’s time to re-think using unhealthy foods to send a good message. And the good news is that there are many healthier alternatives!

• Make a special home cooked meal instead of going to a restaurant. Fancy meals out of the home are nice, but you can make a meal just as exquisite that’s much healthier. Try cooking a nice filet mignon, salmon steak or lobster at home and pair it with some tasty veggies.
• Instead of celebrating with bonbons and candy, try a lighter option. One sweet idea is a parfait with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, and a drizzle of honey. Another idea is to make your own banana ice cream just put frozen bananas in a food processor with a little cocoa powder or instant coffee for a guilt-free frozen treat.
• If the occasion absolutely, positively calls for chocolate, try making your own dark chocolate covered fruit. Just melt dark chocolate (above 70% cocoa is best) and then dip in your favorite fruit, such as strawberries, oranges and bananas. For an extra special touch, sprinkle some crushed nuts on top before the chocolate sets.

When you stop to think about it, there’s no really better way to celebrate than with a treat that’s good for your health, too!

Sources:

• http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chocolate-covered-strawberries-recipe.html
• http://www.foodily.com/s/oatmeal-pancakes-no-flour