This post, originally published in 2016, has been updated to include new recipes.
Traditional Hanukkah foods are delicious treats you probably look forward to all year, but they’re decidedly not tummy-friendly. Combinations of wheat and dairy or wheat and starchy root vegetables put a strain on your digestive system. When you include lots of servings of fried foods, the entire menu features gas-causing foods. While it’s important to honor the Festival of Lights by preparing dishes in the traditional way (for dishes like latkes), here’s a new way to enjoy the foods you’ve always loved!
Very Well’s Low-Carb Latkes
Traditional potato latkes get their carb content from the main ingredient, potato. This lighter version swaps starchy, carb-laden spuds with celeraic.
Low Carb Matzo Balls and Soup
A Sweet Life’s Low Carb Matzo Balls
Elana’s Pantry’s Matzo Ball Soup
Tori Avery’s Slow-Cooker Brisket
This recipe is not only delicious, the cooking method allows you to get a head-start on meal prep. Watch your portion size and pass on high-carb sides, such as carrots and potatoes. (At 6 grams per carrot and 37 grams for potatoes, this traditional side dish packs more carbs than a classic, dairy-rich noodle kugel.)
The Low-carb Diabetic’s Smoked Salmon with Coconut Flour Blinis
The seafood lovers will finish every bite!
Tori Avery’s Noodle Kugel
This is probably going to be served every night of Hanukkah … at the end of the evening. At 30 grams of carbohydrates per serving, a portion of traditional kugel amounts to 10% of your RDA (based on a 2,000- calorie diet). The carb intake isn’t significant, but dairy-rich meals can aggravate intestinal gas and bloating.
If kugel hasn’t been a part of your recent celebrations, here’s how you can enjoy it once again:
- Swap the dairy sour cream for almond sour cream.
- Replace the cottage- and cream cheese with almond milk cream cheese.
- Alternatively, try this non-dairy sour cream or this cream cheese substitute.
- Use spaghetti squash instead of noodles.
- Substitute 4 tbsp. of NOW Foods Organic Better Stevia Extract Powder for the cup of sugar.
Attention, kugel lovers: if you keep kosher, there’s no need to wait to eat Tori Avery’s dessert after the brisket!
MeatFreeKeto’s Low-Carb Rugelach
Substitute Now Foods’ stevia for Swerve and you’re good to go.
Epicurious’ Zero-carb Flourless Chocolate Cake
Swap out the sugar in this recipe’s ingredient list with stevia (see note) and ditch the carbs.
Low-carb Joy’s Jelly Doughnuts
Special equipment: muffin/cupcake pan; 2 tsp. ice cream or cookie scoop
A. Substitute Now stevia for the Swerve sweetener called for in LowCarb Joy’s ingredients list.
B. In step 7, use a greased muffin or cupcake pan instead of a doughnut pan. Put one scoop of batter in each well (the cavity should be no more than 1/4 full); center a spoonful of jelly on the batter; top with another scoop of batter.
C. Follow the remaining steps. Yum!
Note: To save carbs and eliminate the possibility of erythritol-related gastric distress, bake with stevia. Bookmark Stevita Stevia’s conversion chart for handy reference.
Lighten the carb load this year while you celebrate the holidays.If you just can’t pass up your favorite comfort foods, two CharcoCaps® capsules will help promote digestive comfort.* CharcoCaps® dietary supplement, Anti-Gas Detoxifying Formula will let you enjoy your favorite foods and beverages with less worry.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Additional Sources:
Grams to ounces conversion chart
http://www.rapidtables.com/convert/weight/gram-to-ounce.htm