Hemp Holiday Eating, Happier Body: How Hemp Helps You Enjoy the Season

Holiday treats with a healthy twist. That’s what Hemp Holiday Eating is about. It’s a smarter way to enjoy holiday foods and feel great after. Healthy holiday eating made simple where holiday eating supports you — not derails your goals. Plus a few recipes to help ring in the holidays.

Holiday Treats, Happier Body: How Hemp Helps You Enjoy the Season Without the Sugar Crash

The holidays roll in with twinkling lights, cozy gatherings, and — let’s be honest — mountains of delicious food. It’s the season of Grandma’s legendary cookies, your aunt’s “famous” casserole (famous for what… we still don’t know), and that new dessert you found while doom-scrolling TikTok at 1 a.m.

And you should absolutely enjoy every bite. The holidays are about food, flavor, and connection — not guilt. But here’s the deal: you don’t have to let the holiday buffet completely steamroll your healthy habits. With a few smart tweaks, you can enjoy those family favorites and support your body at the same time. Hemp Holiday Eating doesn’t mean boring.

One of the easiest holiday hacks?
Add hemp. Yep — just a sprinkle can be a game changer.

What Makes Hemp Holiday Eating a Perfect Match

Holiday recipes tend to be heavy on sugar, low on fiber, and lacking protein — the perfect combo for big energy spikes and even bigger sugar crashes. That’s where hemp steps in like the quiet hero of the cookie tray.

Hemp helps level out the sugar rollercoaster.

Did you know the plant-base protein and fiber in hemp seeds can actually help slow down how quickly your body absorbs sugar? That means fewer spikes, fewer crashes, and fewer “why did I eat that entire pan of fudge?” regrets. Hemp Holiday Eating to the rescue! It can be as simple as incorporating a little hemp flour or hemp hearts into your baked goods.

Hemp turns treats into functional food.

Add Better Option Foods Hemp Flour to your favorite recipes

It’s ridiculously easy to boost a recipe:

  • Swap out 1/4 to 1/2 the flour called for in your favorite recipe with hemp flour for cookies, muffins, or breads, and it’s gluten free to boot.

  • Mix hemp protein powder into brownies or energy bites

  • Stir hemp seeds into cakes and holiday granola for a nutty crunch

  • Sprinkle hemp hearts on salads and side dishes a to increase protein and healthy fats.

You’re not changing the family recipe — just giving it a nutritional edge.

The best part? Hemp blends seamlessly into baked goods without changing the flavor. You get the holiday indulgence and a shot of plant-powered nutrition. Total win. You’ll also give the family something to talk about! Hemp! Will it get us high?!?!  Set them straight if you want, or let ‘m think whatever… Sometimes a little chill-out is not a bad idea when everyone’s gathered all together and the power of suggestion may do it 😉

upgrading a family recipe with Better Option Foods hemp flour

An old family recipe where is easy to swap out some of the flour with hemp flour making your delicious cookies a more health bound sweet treat.

The Real Holiday Magic: Eating Slowly and Actually Tasting It – Is Hemp Holiday Eating Too

Now, here’s the part nobody talks about during the holidays because we’re all too busy inhaling sugar cookies like they’re oxygen.

Slow eating changes everything — especially during holiday feasts.

When you chew thoroughly and give your body time to process what you’re eating, you:

  • Avoid overeating

  • Feel more satisfied with less

  • Improve digestion

  • Actually enjoy the flavors (wild concept, I know)

Pair slow eating with hemp-powered treats, and your holidays suddenly become easier on your body — without sacrificing the joy, the family traditions, or the desserts you wait for all year.

Smart Swaps, Not Holiday Handcuffs

Let’s be honest: no one wants a lecture during December. You shouldn’t feel pressured to “be perfect” or eat like a monk while everyone else is swimming in gravy.

What you can do is make small adjustments that still let you live your holiday life:

  • Add hemp flour or hemp protein powder to baked goods

  • Use hemp seeds as a topping for yogurt, oatmeal, salads, or even festive dips

  • Bring one “better option” dish to gatherings (yes, pun fully intended)

  • Slow down while you eat — taste it, savor it, enjoy it

Your body doesn’t need perfection. It needs consistency, balance, and a few better choices sprinkled in — just like hemp.

Hemp Holiday Eating is Healthier Without Losing the Fun

This season is about joy, flavor, and making memories. You can absolutely enjoy your favorite treats while still supporting your health. Hemp just makes it easier.

So go ahead — bake the cookies, try the new Insta recipe, enjoy the family traditions… even the slightly chaotic ones. And let hemp help keep your energy steady, your digestion happier, and your holiday spirit fully intact. Maybe add in a nip of rum or bourbon to the eggnog too or a splash of gin to the punch bowl.

Eating Better is a Journey

Feeling Better is your Reward

Eat Better. Feel Better – You’re worth it!

May your holiday be filled with peace and happiness.💖

Try some of our favorite recipes this Holiday season or experiment on your own! We’ve included a few within this blog post. You can also scroll through our other recipes to check out more Holiday eating ideas.

holiday hemp eating with Better Option Foods

Holiday Pecan Balls with Hemp Flour

This is a very old family recipe and was always a holiday favorite. I'll show you the original recipe so you can see how I changed it up slightly for a better pecan ball recipe. It's also what I call an involve-the-kids as fun kitchen helpers. Kids love to be a part of baking and this is a good recipe to bring them onboard. Let their small hands be a part of the prep by having them roll the balls. Enjoy!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course: cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 ¼ cup unbleached flour (gluten free flour blend may be substituted)
  • 1 cup Better Option Foods Hemp Flour
  • 3 cups finely chopped pecans. You need to measure out the pecans after they have been finely chopped
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla
  • 2 TBSP organic cane sugar (OPTIONAL) add to the dry mix if desired
  • ½ to 1 cup 10x sugar (that's powdered sugar) to be SET ASIDE, do not add to dry mix

Equipment

  • cookie sheets
  • large mixing bowl
  • chopping knife or nut grinder
  • cutting board if chopping nuts by hand
  • pastry cutter or large fork
  • wax paper
  • spoon for scooping out the cookie dough

Method
 

  1. Here's the original recipe for you to compare and see how hemp flour can be used in your favorite cookie recipes! Making the recipe better by an upgrade.
    pecan balls original recipe by Better Option Foods
  2. Finely chop pecans small enough so they will stay together in a ball.
    better option foods nut grinder
  3. An old fashion nut grinder works great to chop the pecans into just the right size. I've had these for years and pull them out at Holiday time each years.
    better option foods nut grinder for pecan balls
  4. Preheat oven to 375 to 400.
  5. DRY Mix: Stir together until well blended - unbleached flour, hemp flour, chopped pecans, 2-TBSP Sugar (optional) to a large mixing bowl.
  6. ADD to dry mix:
    By using a pastry cutter or fork, cut butter into the dry mix with a pastry cutter or fork until very well blended. Add vanilla. The mix is rather crumbly.
  7. *HINT: If using gluten free flour, some GF blends tend to be a bit more dry than regular flour. Adding 1 tablespoon of milk to the mix will help solve that issue.
  8. Pull out a piece of wax paper about 18" long. Place on kitchen surface where you have room to work. Place at least 1/2 cup powdered sugar on the wax paper - SET ASIDE. You will be rolling the hot baked cookies in the sugar until well coated.
    * When the time comes: You may need to add more powdered sugar for coating the cookies. Increase powdered sugar as needed.
  9. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of the cookie mix into the palm of your hand.
    Roll FIRMLY into ball and place on a greased cookie sheet. Baking time will depend on the size of the balls you make. Generally 11 to 15 minutes.
    Oven temperatures can vary too. You need to watch so the bottom of the cookies do not burn.
  10. Once baked, gently remove each cookie, 1 at a time, from cookie sheet and place on the wax paper that has been coated with the powdered sugar. Roll the cookies around in the powdered sugar while the cookies are still warm to coat them. Once they have completely cooled. Roll them in the powdered sugar again.
  11. Makes a few dozen cookies depending on the size of the balls you make

Notes

Eating Better is a Journey
Feeling Better is your Reward
Eat Better. Feel Better - You're worth it!
May your holiday be filled with peace and happiness.💖

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

Hemp Holiday Eating With Some Warm Spice

This oatmeal cake was another all time family favorite and lends great to the buffet of Holiday treats because the spices bring on a comfort food warmth.

hemp oatmeal cake with toasted coconut topping
Laura Noble

Hemp Oatmeal Cake with Toasted Coconut Pecan Topping

This hemp oatmeal cake is incredibly moist, with a subtle hint of spice and a golden topping of toasted coconut & pecans. It's become a beloved favorite in our family—and for good reason. As a kid, it was my all-time favorite. The original recipe came from one of my mother’s dear friends back in the early 1960s. I’ve given it a small makeover. I reduced the sugar. Added hemp flour and hemp hearts, which added a wonderful nutty flavor.
Hemp flour is naturally gluten free. This cake can easily be made gluten free by using a gluten free flour baking blend & gluten free rolled oats. No one will know the difference. Enjoy!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup butter (1-stick that measures 8 tbsp) (plus 6 more tbsp for topping)
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup organic cane sugar (plus 1/2 cup more for topping)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 lg eggs
  • 1/2 tsp mineral sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup hemp hearts Better Option Foods brand
  • 2/3 cup unbleached flour gluten free blend can be used
  • 2/3 cup hemp flour Better Option Foods brand
For Coconut Topping
  • 1/2 cup organic cane sugar
  • 1/4 cup Pet Milk
  • 6 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Equipment

  • large mixing bowl
  • 3 to 4 qt pan for boiling water
  • 9 x 13 cake pan

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Place water in a 3-4qt pan on stove top to. Boil enough water to measure out 1 1/4 cups.
    Place 1 1/4 cup boiled water in lg mixing bowl
  3. Add in:
    1 cup oatmeal
    1/2 cup butter
    Let stand 20 minutes, the butter will eventually melt
  4. After 20 minutes: add the following ingredients and stir together with spatula.
    (no need to use a mixer)
    2/3 cup brown sugar
    2/3 cup organic cane sugar
    1 tsp baking powder
    1 tsp baking soda
    hemp flour on counter with spices for preparing oatmeal cake
  5. Blend in
    2 eggs
  6. Stir and Add:
    1/2 tsp salt
    1/2 tsp cinnamon
    1/2 tsp nutmeg
    1 tsp pure vanilla extract
    1/4 cups hemp hearts
    2/3 cups unbleached flour (or gluten free flour blend)
    2/3 cups hemp flour
    Stir together with spatula until evenly mixed. The mixture is not stiff and will easily pour.
    hemp flour, hemp hearts in mixing bowl to make oatmeal cake
  7. Place into 9" x 13" non-stick cake pan
    Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes
Toasted Coconut Topping
  1. Place in sauce pan on low heat (Do NOT boil this)
    1/2 cup organic cane sugar
    1/4 cup Pet Milk
    6 Tbsp butter
  2. Remove from heat
  3. Add & stir together:
    1/2 cups chopped pecans
    1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
    how to spread coconut topping from pan on hemp oatmeal cake
  4. Spread evenly over warm cake
    Spreading Coconut Topping Evenly on Hemp Oatmeal Cake
  5. Place under preheated broiler for a few minutes
    Broil CAREFULLY!
    Watch as this will burn very quickly. You just want the coconut and pecans to toast up to a nice golden color

Notes

This long time, family favorite, hemp oatmeal cake recipe uses Hemp Protein Flour and Hemp Hearts. Adding a mild nutty flavor and boosting nutrition, and fiber. Making it gluten free is optional. This is a perfect example of how you can take your favorite cake or muffin recipe and modify it.  Reduce 1/2 of the flour called for in your recipe and substitute with Hemp Flour. Making it better!
Eat Better. Feel Better. You're Worth It!

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

Serving Muffins for Hemp Holiday Eating

The mini muffins work out great for adding to your cookie tray.

hemp seeds for gut health banana hemp protein muffins by better option foods

Banana Hemp Protein Muffins

A Better Option Foods recipe inspired by a granddaugher.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 53 minutes
Course: Breakfast, coffee break, Dessert, healthy snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup organic cane sugar
  • 1 lg egg
  • 1/2 cup softened butter 1 stick of 8 tbsp
  • 4 mashed ripe banana
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup cultured buttermilk *(see recipe note below) whole cultured buttermilk best
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup hemp hearts or whole toasted hemp seeds optional - whole hemp seeds give a nice crunch to the muffins,
  • 1 cup hemp protein powder Better Option Foods brand
  • 1 cup unbleached flour GF flour can be substituted

Equipment

  • 1 4-qt large mixing bowl
  • 1 medium bowl for mashing the bananas
  • muffin tins (or, 2 loaf baking pans if you prefer making as banana bread)
  • parchment paper cupcake liners

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 325
  2. Prepare muffin tin: Decide on the size of the muffins you want to bake. I like making mini-muffins and prefer using cupcake liners verses greasing or spraying the muffin tins. Place paper cupcake liners in muffin tin; or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
    muffin tins for hemp protein muffins
  3. Assemble needed ingredients on kitchen counter
    banana hemp muffins by better option foods
  4. In a separate bowl, peel & smash bananas with a fork, set aside until ready to add to baking mixture
    banana hemp muffins by better option foods
  5. In large mixing bowl add:
    sugar, egg, soft butter, mashed bananas, baking soda, buttermilk, salt, vanilla, chopped walnuts, hemp seeds, hemp protein powder, & unbleached flour
    Stir together by hand with a spatula.
    banana hemp muffins by better option foods
  6. Mixture is lumpy, but well blended
    banana hemp muffins by better option foods
  7. Drop batter into muffin cups about 2/3 to 3/4 full. You can fill to the top if your prefer jumbo muffins. You'll have to slightly increase the bake time.
    banana hemp muffins by better option foods
  8. Baking time will depend on the size muffins you are making or if you're making this recipe into banana bread
    For mini muffins (less than 2" cups) - 25 to 30 minutes
    For larger muffins (about 3" cups) - 40 to 45 minutes
    For banana bread, makes 2 loaves - bake for 55 minutes
    These muffins freeze well too. Enjoy!
    banana hemp protein muffins by better option foods

Notes

If you're wondering what to do with the rest of the *buttermilk after making these delicious hemp protein muffins; drink it! It's really good for you and has a lot of nutritional benefits. Personally I like it. You may have to acquire a taste for it, but once you see all the goodness it holds, you may be sold.
Buttermilk is kind of like yogurt, but different. Both are cultured dairy products made by fermenting milk. Buttermilk has a slightly sour, tangy flavor. The consistency is thicker than regular milk, but not as thick as yogurt. Buttermilk is rich in probiotics, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals.
Gut health and bone density are among a the benefits of drinking buttermilk. It aids your digestive system with probiotics. The beneficial bacteria, which helps to maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms in your digestive tract that promote smoother digestion.
For bone health, buttermilk is rich in calcium and phosphorus, needed minerals for maintaining strong bones and teeth. It also has vitamins like B12 and riboflavin, which support strong bones and muscle function. These nutrients may reduce the risk of osteoporosis (a reduction in bone density) and dental issues.
Get more detailed information about buttermilk from this article, the power of buttermilk.
Add buttermilk to your diet along with Better Option Foods  hemp hearts.
You can also use buttermilk for making our Hemp Protein Pancakes & Waffle Mix. They're the best pancakes you'll ever eat.
It's all about...  Eat Better. Feel Better. You're worth it!

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Let us know how it was!

Scroll though our past blogs to find more recipes.