Cinnamon and Spice: Christmas Cookies and Treats with Less Fat and Calories

There is nothing better than the sweet aroma of baking cookies pervading the house. Whether it's sugar, cinnamon, or gingerbread, those delicious scents are the culinary essence of Christmas. To celebrate the season, I have put together some of my favorite sites and recipes to save you time and as always fat and calories. And as an added bonus, you get the scent for free.

One of my favorite cookies is oatmeal raisin. Of course, these don't have to wait for the holiday season. The oatmeal is an excellent source of fiber and the raisins give them that lovely sweet flavor. With the butter and eggs in the traditional recipes they can really start to pack on the calories though. To find a less fat laden recipe check here: Diabetic-LowCarb Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Diana's Desserts. This lady has some great recipes for any time of the year. At only 64 calories and 3 grams of fat per cookie, they are a diet friendly dream.

One of the most special times of preparing for Christmas that I remember is cutting out cookies in the shape of reindeer, bells, trees, and Santa Claus. Even if you are trying to watch the fatty excess that happens this time of year, you don't have to skip this seasonal ritual. Gingerbread and sugar cookies are still possible with these creative recipes. Low fat double ginger cookies from cookierecipiesonline.com can be shaped anyway you like. Pick either simple round cookies or cut them out into gingerbread men or ladies. Either way, they're bound to appeal to adults and children alike and they are 49 calories and 1 gram of fat per cookie. Low fat sugar cookies, found on fitnessandfreebies.com, are perfect for cut outs as well. To decorate, sprinkle with colored sugar and bake or go ahead and let the kids have a ball with icing. You can always keep some aside without the icing.

All of the following recipes are on www.foodfit.com. Even though they are unique recipes, I think they would be an interesting addition to your celebration. Good luck cookies are orange flavored sugar cookies. They are modeled after the traditional Chinese New Year cookies. They would be a fun treat at a New Years Eve party. Chocolate Cranberry Clusters are a no bake cookie featuring chocolate and dried cranberries. As an added surprise, they also have butterscotch chips and cornflakes replace the rice cereal.

Pecan shortbreads are another favorite, especially in the South. They would go well with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or milk. Perfect for when friends drop by unexpectedly or as a snack after a long day Christmas shopping. These would be a welcome variation to add to a cookie tray for a family or community get together.

Lemon bars are a good way to incorporate a fresh citrus flavor to your holiday baking. With their flaky crust and sweet tart filling, these are usually a big hit, especially with the grown ups in the crowd. Dusting the bars with powdered sugar helps to offset the tangy lemon flavor.

For a light touch, chocolate raspberry meringues are perfect. Baked at a low heat for a longer time than regular cookies, they have crisp texture that goes very well with coffee or hot tea. With virtually no fat, they will fit into a healthy Christmas celebration easily. The chocolate and raspberry combination doesn't hurt either.

How about Eggnog!? I was giddy with joy when I found this recipe. Every year I can't wait for the holidays for this one reason. Eggnog, I love eggnog. I don't love the fat and calories. I mean, all that cream and sugar. It's enough to ruin any good intentions and that's before the cookies and sweets are served. Happily for me, I found a recipe for diabetic eggnog at recipezaar.com. Okay, so it's not a diet soda, but it is much better than the original. So feel free to indulge in moderation.

Eat, drink, and be merry! That's part of what the holidays are about. Enjoy your time with family and friends and don't worry too much about the calories; you can always work it off caroling.