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Mardi Gras celebrations will look a little different this year in the City of New Orleans. Parades have been cancelled and people won’t be dancing in the streets, but that doesn’t mean that the holiday fun has to stop in 2021. If there ever was a time to celebrate Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday from the comfort of your own home, it’s this year.

While Mardi Gras officially takes place on Tuesday, February 16th (the day before Ash Wednesday), Mardi Gras festivities usually start a month in advance in New Orleans. So, turn on this Mardi Gras playlist, decorate your house in the colors of Mardi Gras – purple for justice, gold for power, and green for faith, and start baking these five Mardi Gras themed desserts that will make your party that much sweeter. After all, just because you won’t be celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans this year, who says you can’t bring the spirit of the Big Easy home to you? Now, get those beads ready, pump up the jams, and let’s get this baking party started.

Mardi Gras King Cake

This Mardi Gras King Cake recipe makes it possible to enjoy this Mardi Gras staple without having to eat a lot of extra sugar and carbs. The tradition of the king cake dates back to 1870 when it was brought to New Orleans from France. The cake is supposed to represent the crown of the three Wise Men, and a plastic baby is hidden inside the cake to represent baby Jesus. The person who finds the baby in their piece of cake is supposed to host the party the next year. So, there’s a lot on the line when it comes to eating this oval shaped dessert during Mardi Gras.

To make this classic Mardi Gras favorite, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and grease a Bundt pan. Then separate 5 large eggs into 2 large bowls. Add ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar to the egg whites and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Then set them aside. After that, add 3 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, and 2 tablespoons of erythritol to the egg yolks. Mix until well combined and then add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, two teaspoons of baking powder, and 1 cup of almond flour, stirring until everything is mixed well. Fold the egg whites into the almond flour mixture and mix until you have a uniform batter. Then in a small bowl, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and ¼ cup of erythritol.

Pour half of the batter in the prepared pan, and evenly top it with the cinnamon/butter/erythritol mixture. Then add the remaining batter, while making sure that the batter has been spread to the edges of the pan, covering the cinnamon mixture. Use a butter knife to make swirls in the bread, and if you’re going to hide a baby in the cake now is the time to do so. Just pick the spot and push the baby down into the batter until it’s covered. Then bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it’s golden on top.

While your cake is baking, you can prepare the icing by combing 2 tablespoons of softened butter, 1 ounce of softened cream cheese, 2 to 3 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream, 3 tablespoons of confectioners’ erythritol, and a ½ teaspoon of vanilla into a bowl. Then whisk until it’s smooth and uniform. To make the purple, gold, and green colored sugar for the decoration, place 2 teaspoons of erythritol into 3 separate bowls and mix each bowl with 2 drops of food coloring, using 1 drop of blue and 1 drop of red to make the purple color.

Allow the cake to cool before removing it from the pan. Then you can top it with the frosting and sprinkle on the colored sugar. This recipe makes 12 servings with 199 calories per serving. Before serving the cake to your guests, make sure to tell everyone at the party to check their pieces for the plastic baby before they bite into it. And then let whoever has the baby in their piece know that you’re coming over their house to celebrate Mardi Gras next year.

Oven-Baked Beignets

Beignets, which are French for ‘fritters,’ are often associated with Mardi Gras. So, of course, you’ll want to make them for your Mardi Gras party this year. Rather than deep-frying the Beignets, which is the custom in New Orleans, we chose this Oven-Baked Beignets recipe for you since it’ll help you save both calories and time. This recipe will take 1 hour and 10 minutes to make, yields 12 servings, and comes in at 260 calories per serving.

Place ¼ cup of warm water (around 105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit) in a small bowl, and then sprinkle with yeast and 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar. Stir and let stand until foamy, which will take about 5 minutes. Then in a large bowl, stir 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of salt, and granulated sugar until combined. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives used scissors-fashion, cut in 4 tablespoons of cold butter or margarine until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. With a fork, stir ¾ of a cup of buttermilk and one large egg into the yeast mixture until it’s blended. Create a well in the center of the flour mixture, and then pour in the yeast mixture. Stir until combined, and soft dough forms.

On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough several times until it’s smooth. Then spray the same bowl with nonstick cooking spray and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl and let it stand for 10 minutes. As you’re waiting, spray 2 large cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Punch down the dough, and then on a floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a 9-inch square. Cut the dough into 6 strips, and then cut each strip into 6 pieces – making 36 (1½ inch) square pieces. Move the Beignets to the prepared cookie sheets, placing them about 1½-inches apart. Then spray a sheet of plastic wrap with nonstick cooking spray and cover the Beignets with the wrap, sprayed side down. Let the Beignets rise for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the Beignets for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they’re golden brown, rotating the sheets between the upper and lower racks halfway through baking. While the Beignets are hot, toss them with confectioners’ sugar. You can also make a Café au Lait Dip, which you can serve with the warm Beignets.

Churro Banana Bites

This Churro Banana Bites recipe is the perfect option for those of you who want to be healthy, but also love donuts. This quick and easy recipe requires five minutes of prep and takes 15 minutes total.

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, and whisk together until evenly combined. Then heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add in 2 bananas, which you’ll slice in ½-inch coins, and cook for about 1 minute, or until the bananas start to caramelize. Sprinkle about half of the cinnamon-sugar over the banana rounds. Then flip the rounds and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar, and cook for about another minute. When it’s time to serve the churro bites, have some toothpicks nearby so you and your loved ones can dunk them in melted chocolate.

Healthy Pecan Pie

While pecan pie is delicious and perfect for your Mardi Gras celebration, it’s unfortunately not the healthiest dessert option out there. That’s why this Healthy Pecan Pie recipe is the perfect choice since it substitutes some of the unhealthy ingredients, while not sacrificing any taste. This recipe will take 45 minutes to make with 10 minutes of prep time and 35 minutes of cooking time.

Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then in a large bowl, combine ½ cup of raw honey, 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil, 3 eggs, ½ teaspoon of fresh orange zest, 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of unsweetened almond milk, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and 3 tablespoons of whole wheat pastry flour. Stir to combine, and then arrange 2 cups of raw pecans into a 9-inch pie crust. Pour the liquid filling mixture over the pecans, and spread with a spoon if you need to. Place the pie into the oven and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 20-25 minutes. The pie will rise in the oven, and you’ll know it’s done when it has small cracks in the top. When it’s ready, remove the pecan pie from the oven and allow it to cool.

Healthier Bread Pudding  

Sometimes you don’t necessarily want to eat completely healthy, you just want to eat a little healthier. That’s exactly what this Healthier Bread Pudding recipe accomplishes. This recipe will take 1 hour and 15 minutes all in, with 30 minutes of prep time and 45 minutes of cooking time. It will yield 12 servings with 157 calories per serving.

The ingredients you’ll need for this Healthier Bread Pudding are 6 slices of day-old whole wheat bread, 1 large apple (peeled and chopped), 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 4 eggs (beaten), 2 cups of low-fat milk, ½ cup of white sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. You can also use a ½ cup of raisins if you like the taste of them.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then break your whole wheat bread slices into small pieces, which you’ll place into an 8-inch square baking dish. Mix in the raisins (if you want) and then the apple. Then drizzle with melted butter. Combine the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat until well mixed. Then pour over the bread and lightly push down with a fork until the bread is covered and soaking up the egg mixture.

Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Then place the bread pudding baking dish into a large roasting pan. Very carefully, pour the boiling water around the pan. Then bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted into the middle of the pudding comes out mostly clean. This will usually take about 45 minutes. Now that you’re finished baking, it’s time to enjoy your delicious Mardi Gras desserts and celebrate with those nearest and dearest to you.

The Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 12, 2021 ushering in the Year of the Ox. The Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival and the Lunar New Year, begins on the date of the second new moon after the winter solstice in China. This means that the first day of the Chinese New Year can occur between January 21st and February 20th.

There are many traditions and superstitions that coincide with the Chinese New Year. People will eat lucky food, while avoiding unlucky food, clean their homes prior to the Chinese New Year, but not on the day of the New Year out of fear of sweeping away possible wealth, and will give and receive red envelopes with crisp money, while steering clear of unlucky gifts. In order to fully understand what’s required to celebrate the Chinese New Year the right way, this deep dive will examine the dos and don’ts, as well as how the Chinese New Year relates to the zodiacs.

How The Chinese New Year Relates To The Zodiacs

Twelve animals represent the Chinese zodiac signs or sheng xiao, which translates to “born” plus “resemblance.” The popularity of Western astrology’s horoscopes has made people interested in what the different zodiac signs mean for people on an individual level. As such, we’ll go through the Chinese zodiac signs in order, and take a closer look at the zodiac animals and their meanings. We’ll examine the birth years that correspond to each animal in the Chinese zodiac and the personality traits that go along with them. And in case you were wondering, your zodiac year is actually considered unlucky. So, you should be extra careful during the year of your birth animal and will probably want to avoid any major changes in your life like starting a business, getting married, or buying a new house.

RAT (ZI)

Personality Traits: You are ambitious, sincere, and can be generous with your money. Other traits include being charming, talkative, resourceful, private, frugal, and critical. The rat is compatible with the dragon and the monkey, and the rat’s opposite is the horse.

Birth Years: 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912, 1900

OX (CHOU)

Personality Traits: You are a leader who is bright, patient, and cheerful. Other traits include being diligent, gentle, hardworking, reliable, patient, materialistic, and stubborn. The ox is compatible with the snake and the rooster, and the ox’s opposite is the sheep.

Birth Years: 2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, 1901

TIGER (YIN)

Personality Traits: You are forthright, sensitive, possess great courage, and have the ability to be a strong leader capable of great sympathy. Other traits include being confident, brave, magnetic, idealistic, thrill-seeking, arrogant, and selfish. The tiger is compatible with the horse and the dog, and the tiger’s opposite is the monkey.

Birth Years: 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914, 1902

RABBIT (MAO)

Personality Traits: You are talented, affectionate, and are a seeker of tranquility. Other traits include being kind, sensitive, artistic, romantic, judgmental, timid, and refined. The rabbit is compatible with the sheep and the pig, and the rabbit’s opposite is the rooster.

Birth Years: 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915, 1903

DRAGON (CHEN)

Personality Traits: You are robust, passionate, and your life is filled with complexity. Other traits include being outspoken, energetic, generous, intelligent, a perfectionist, egocentric, and impatient. The dragon is compatible with the monkey and the rat, and the dragon’s opposite is the dog.

Birth Years: 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, 1904

SNAKE (SI)

Personality Traits: You are strong-willed, intense, and display great wisdom. Other traits include being clever, curious, alluring, wise, anxious, calculating, and jealous. The snake is compatible with the rooster and the ox, and the snake’s opposite is the pig.

Birth Years: 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, 1905

HORSE (WU)

Personality Traits: You are popular, like the company of others, and are physically attractive. Other traits include being amusing, enthusiastic, independent, persuasive, irresponsible, moody, and opportunistic. The horse is compatible with the tiger and the dog, and the horse’s opposite is the rat.

Birth Years: 2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906

SHEEP or GOAT (WEI)

Personality Traits: You are stylish, aesthetic, and enjoy being a private person. Other traits include being easygoing, empathetic, creative, cheerful, disorganized, impulsive, and lazy. The sheep or goat is compatible with the pig and the rabbit, and the sheep or goat’s opposite is the ox.

Birth Years: 2027, 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907

MONKEY (SHEN)

Personality Traits: You are intelligent, skillful, persuasive, and strive to excel. Other traits include being entertaining, intelligent, optimistic, sociable, fickle, secretive, and unpredictable. The monkey is compatible with the dragon and the rat, and the monkey’s opposite is the tiger.

Birth Years: 2028, 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908

ROOSTER (YOU)

Personality Traits: You seek wisdom, truth, and have a pioneering spirit. Other traits include being adventurous, charitable, funny, loyal, argumentative, boastful, and self-involved. The rooster is compatible with the snake and the ox, and the rooster’s opposite is the rabbit.

Birth Years: 2029, 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909

DOG (XU)

Personality Traits: You are generous, loyal, and have the ability to work well with others. Other traits include being helpful, honest, trustworthy, unselfish, pessimistic, anxious, and timid. The dog is compatible with the horse and the tiger, and the dog’s opposite is the dragon.

Birth Years: 2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910

PIG (HAI)

Personality Traits: You are gallant, noble, and your friends will always remain at your side. Other traits include being caring, generous, smart, outgoing, fearful, impatient and materialistic. The pig is compatible with the rabbit and the sheep, and the pig’s opposite is the snake.

Birth Years: 2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911

Chinese New Year Dos and Don’ts

DO:

Eat Long Noodles and Dumplings: It’s traditional to serve and eat long noodles on the Chinese New Year since long noodles symbolize a long life. Families also eat dumplings as the clock strikes midnight to symbolize good luck and wealth.

Wear Red: Red is a good luck color in Chinese culture so you’ll see lots of people wearing red on the Chinese New Year. Red also symbolizes happiness, vitality, and a long life.

Display Flowers In Your Home: You’ll definitely want to have flowers around your house since orchids stand for fertility and abundance, peach blossoms are for prosperity and growth, and plum blossoms are for endurance and courage.

Give and Receive ‘Lucky Money’ In Red Envelopes: It’s common for children to receive ‘lucky money’ in red envelopes since good luck is a major theme of the Chinese New Year. Make sure to give an even-numbered dollar amount since those numbers are considered lucky, while odd numbers aren’t. You’ll also want to choose crisp bills for the red envelopes.

Clean Your Home Before The Chinese New Year: People clean their homes prior to the Chinese New Year and open their door to let good luck enter.

DON’T:

Eat Unlucky Food: Avoid eating porridge for breakfast on the day of the Chinese New Year since it symbolizes poverty.

Bathe or Wash Your Hair: By washing your hair and bathing on the day of the Chinese New Year it’s believed that you’ll be washing all of your luck out of your hair.

Cry: Crying on the first day of the Chinese New Year means tears for the whole year so make sure to avoid crying.

Give Unlucky Gifts: If giving a gift to someone on New Year’s Day, make sure not to give any sharp items since it implies the cutting of ties, handkerchiefs since they’re usually given at funerals, and anything to do with the number four since four sounds like ‘death.’

Sweep or Clean Your Home The Day Of The Chinese New Year: Tradition says that no one should pick up a broom and clean their house on the day of the Chinese New Year because any cleaning done on New Year’s day washes away good luck. So, you’ll want to avoid cleaning and sweeping on the actual day to make sure that you don’t sweep the good luck for the New Year out the door.

For many people, the New Year often comes with new health and fitness resolutions. However, sticking with these health and fitness goals is usually easier said than done. One study found that 73% of people who set fitness goals as a New Year’s resolution give them up. The top reasons people gave for abandoning their New Year’s fitness resolutions were a lack of time and difficulty following a program, according to the study.

Since we want to see you succeed and accomplish your health and fitness goals in 2021, we put together an at-home workout that will target your arms, abs, and butt. You don’t need anything other than a little space for yourself to complete these exercises. So, go into your planner right now and schedule time for your workouts each week. With a workout plan in place and dedicated time set aside for your exercise routine, you’re well on your way to achieving your health and fitness goals for this year.

ARMS

Floor Tricep Dips: If you’re looking to strengthen the back of your arms and your shoulders, tricep dips will accomplish just that. Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. With your back straight, position your hands shoulder-width apart on the ground with your fingers pointing in the direction of your feet. To start the exercise, lift your hips off the ground (4 to 6 inches), pushing through the palms of your hands, while also using the soles of your feet to support you. Then lower yourself slowly, bending your elbows until they reach a 90-degree angle, or until your butt returns to the ground. After that, straighten your elbows to press yourself back up to your starting point. Repeat this move five to seven times. As your arms become stronger, you can add more repetitions to each set. 

Plank Up-Down: The plank up-down exercise works your biceps, triceps, shoulders, and core. Start in a standard plank position by planting your hands directly under your shoulders and your toes on the floor. Then go into a forearm plank by lowering your left forearm to the floor, followed by your right forearm. To return to the starting standard plank position, place your left hand on the ground and straighten your left elbow, and then do the same with your right hand and right elbow. Do this a total of six to 15 times, resting as needed. To neutralize your neck and spine, look at a spot on the floor about six to 12 inches in front of you.

Kickboxing Punches: Throwing kickboxing punches will help tone and strengthen your arms and upper back. You’ll also burn a lot of calories throwing the punches. Begin your stance with your feet hip-width apart. Then bring your right arm up in a 45-degree angle with your fist below your jawline. Extend your arm across your body as you punch your fist in front of you. Throw 15 powerful punches with one arm and then throw 15 more with your other arm.

ABS

Flutter Kicks: Having a strong core means you’ll have better posture, more balance, and less joint pain. Flutter kicks are a great way to strengthen your core while also encouraging your abdominal muscles to work through their full range of motion. Start on your back with your head resting on the ground and your arms at your sides. Raise your legs until they are straight above your hips and then lower your legs as far as you can, while keeping your back connected to the ground. Find a challenging height and then start making small kicks up and down with your legs. Breathe in and out through your nose as you complete the reps. The key to this exercise is keeping your lower back attached to the floor by bracing your abs. Do 10 to 20 slow and controlled reps.

V-Ups: To do V-ups, lie down flat on the ground and place your arms straight above your head. Then inhale and suck your belly button in toward the floor. As you exhale, sit up and bring your straight legs up to meet your arms. Then lower back down and repeat this exercise. Aim to complete 10 to 15 reps.

Bird Dog With Elbow-To-Knee Touch: The Bird Dog With Elbow-To-Knee Touch works your abs and your butt. Begin on the ground with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Draw your stomach in and then raise your left arm and your right leg until they’re both extended straight out. While keeping your spine aligned, bring your left elbow to your right knee, and then extend back out to a long line. Do 12 to 15 reps of this exercise on each side.  

BUTT

Fire Hydrant: A strong butt can help relieve lower back pain and make everyday movements like standing and climbing stairs easier. This Fire Hydrant exercise works your glutes, hips, and core at the same time. Start on the ground with your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Keep your belly button drawn in toward your spine, your back flat, and your right leg bent at 90-degrees. Lift your leg out to your right side, stopping at hip height. Do 15 reps, and then switch sides to do another 15 reps. Make sure to keep your core engaged throughout this exercise.

Glute Bridge: The glute bridge will tone and shape your butt, while also activating and strengthening your core stabilizer muscles. To do a glute bridge, lie on your back with your hands at your sides, your knees bent, and your feet flat on the floor hip-width apart. Squeeze your glutes and abs and push through your heels to lift your hips a few inches off the floor until your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Pause and squeeze your glutes at the top, and then slowly lower your hips to return to the starting position. Do 15 reps of this exercise.

Side Skaters: Side skaters work your butt, hamstrings, thighs, and core all at the same time. To do this strength- and agility-building exercise, start in a small squat. Then jump sideways to the left, landing softly on your left leg. Bring your right leg behind to your left ankle, and don’t let it touch the floor. Then change directions by jumping to the right with your right leg. Continue jumping back and forth until you’ve completed 10 to 15 total reps. 

After you’ve welcomed your holiday guests into your home, exchanged pleasantries, and taken their coats, what’s the next thing you usually ask your guests? Chances are it’s some variation of, “Would you like something to drink?”

While the holiday meal often gets the majority of the attention, the drink station is usually one of the first places your guests will go. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you have a festive holiday punch ready and waiting for them. Not only is holiday punch delicious and easy to make, it’ll put everyone in a joyful mood. And since we’re focusing on healthier holiday punch recipes, all of the recipes will be alcohol-free. So, you’ll be serving mocktails to your guests this year.

“Mocktails are highly underrated beverages,” according to the Academy of Culinary Nutrition. “By using whole ingredients like fruits, natural sweeteners, herbs, bitters, or fermented foods, you can blend or infuse a healthy mocktail that is so delicious no one will miss that booze.”

Get ready to experience the magic of mocktails with these five healthier holiday punch recipes.

Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch

This Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch recipe is light, refreshing, and not too sweet. And maybe best of all, this recipe only takes five minutes to make, allowing you to focus on other areas of your holiday party prep. The ingredients for this Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch are 100% cranberry juice, sparkling white grape juice, apple cider, ginger ale, oranges, cranberries, and lots of ice. Make sure to chill all of your ingredients prior to making your punch.

When you’re ready to mix the ingredients together, fill a large punch bowl with ice and add all the ingredients except for the cranberries and the oranges, which you’ll cut up into thin slices. You’ll want to add the orange slices and cranberries last so they can float on top, adding beautiful colors to your Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch.

Healthy Sparkling Christmas Punch (For Kids)

If you’re going to seat the children at your holiday party at the kids’ table, you might as well make them their own healthy holiday punch, too. This Healthy Sparkling Christmas Punch is a variation of the classic version, but without any soda, sorbet, and added sugar. Made with only wholesome ingredients, this punch is perfect for children ages 1 and up.

To make this Healthy Sparkling Christmas Punch, pour orange juice, pineapple juice, and cherry (or pomegranate juice) into a glass, pitcher, or a punch bowl (depending on how much you want to make). You can also add as much sparkling water as you’d like. Then add in a few cups of ice, as well as slices of lemon, lime, and/or orange to make the punch look vibrant.

You can also make DIY Fruit Sticks with the children if you’d like to do an activity together. Place sliced strawberries, pineapple chunks, orange wedges, and any other fruits that you’d like to add on a plate or cutting board. Then fill a small cup with sticks and let each child pick and thread their fruit on the stick. After that, they can either put their fruit stick on top of their cup of punch or place it inside of it. And for the record, there’s no age-limit for making fruit sticks so feel free to do this with the adults, as well.

Sleigh Driver

The Sleigh Driver is a non-alcoholic punch that adds pears, cranberries, and vanilla to the traditional hot cider. This recipe requires 1 cup of water, ½ cup of sugar, a 2-inch piece of fresh ginger (peeled and sliced), 3 pears (chopped into bite-size pieces), 2 quarts of apple cider, and 1 lemon (halved and sliced). All-in, it will take you 50 minutes to make this punch, which will serve 10 people.

Place the water, sugar, ginger, and 1 pear in a large saucepan, bring it to a boil over medium-high heat and stir. Then strain out the solids and return the mixture to the pan. After that, add the remaining pears, cider, and lemon and heat over medium-high heat, stirring often for 15 minutes. Then add cranberries and vanilla and reduce the heat to medium-low. At this point, the liquid should be simmering and not boiling. Let it simmer for 10 more minutes and then serve it in heat-safe mugs.

You can also choose to make this punch a day ahead, as well. If you decide to do that, cover and refrigerate the punch for up to 1 day and reheat it on the stovetop over low heat.

Cranberry-Apple Cider Punch

This Cranberry-Apple Cider Punch is an easy to make drink that will only take you five minutes to mix together. In a 4-quart container, stir together 4 cups of apple cider, 2 cups of cranberry juice cocktail, 2 cups of ginger ale, and 1 (12 ounce) can of frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed). Prior to adding the first three ingredients, make sure that they’re all chilled.

After stirring the ingredients together, refrigerate the punch until serving time. Just before serving, place the punch into a punch bowl. You can garnish with frozen cranberries and orange peel curls if you’d like. Or you can use a rosemary cranberry sprig as a garnish for this festive mocktail with a beautiful red hue.

Cran-Raspberry-Vanilla Punch

Billed as ‘a party in a bowl,’ this Cran-Raspberry-Vanilla Punch is a festive, top-notch non-alcoholic choice. In order to make about 3 ½ quarts of the Cran-Raspberry-Vanilla-Punch, this recipe calls for 6 cups of 100% cranberry-raspberry juice, 6 cups of sparkling cranberry flavored beverage, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, 1 pint of raspberry sorbet, and frozen whole cranberries as a garnish.

When you’re ready to make this Christmas-red punch, set aside ten minutes and add the first three ingredients. Then stir the cranberry-raspberry juice, sparkling cranberry flavored beverage, and the vanilla extract together. Right before you’re ready to serve this holiday hit, add the raspberry sorbet to make this punch extra special. Or as Southern Living says, “It just really isn’t Christmas in the South without at least one punch bowl speckled with floating mounds of sherbet.”

You know when you’re trying to eat healthy, then someone messages the group to make dinner plans? We get that feeling. But, trying to eat healthy doesn’t mean you have to skip out on going to restaurants. Here are our tips on how you can make healthy choices at any restaurant, meet your goals, and still enjoy a night out with the girls!

STEP 1: STICK WITH WATER 

Don’t waste your precious calories on drinks. Sodas and alcoholic beverages can be filled with sugars that can completely derail your goals. Go for water, so you can have more freedom when you’re ordering your meal! 

STEP 2: PICKING THE RIGHT APPETIZER 

Trying to eat healthy doesn’t mean you have to eat less. You can still enjoy an appetizer before your main, just make good choices! Choose a plate that contains something grilled (no fried foods!) or something primarily veggie based. You want to stay away from carbs here, so go for proteins and veg in this course! 

STEP 3: DRESSING ON THE SIDE, PLEASE! 

Salads can be a surprisingly unhealthy trap, mostly due to high-calorie dressings. If you’re ordering a salad, ask for an olive oil and balsamic dressing on the side – any restaurant can do this, and it saves you from ruining your goals with a sneaky dressing! 

Step 4: ORDERING YOUR MAIN COURSE 

Stay far, far away from sections that involve sandwiches, burgers or pastas – they may sound delicious, but it’s not worth it when you’re trying to eat healthier. Instead, opt for lean meats like grilled chicken, or fish. Most menus have these as options, and you can get them with some steamed or grilled veggies, or a salad (dressing on the side). 

If lean meats and fish aren’t your thing, go for a salad for your main! Restaurant salads can be packed with tons of healthy toppings, just make sure you’re avoiding anything fried or breaded – and always remember, olive oil and balsamic dressing on the side! 

STEP 5: TO DESSERT, OR NOT TO DESSERT? 

You can decide to skip dessert altogether, but if you’re craving something sweet and you’ve followed the first 4 steps, you deserve to treat yourself. We recommend sharing a dessert with a couple of your girls, so you can satisfy your craving without ruining your nutrition plan. 

Going out to a restaurant doesn’t have to derail your diet. Make smart choices, so you can have your cake and eat it, too (figuratively speaking, of course)!