Healthy Hamantashen and Mishloach Manot
Purim is one of my favorite Jewish holidays. My children are counting the days, this year a few extra (thanks to the leap year), because they know that on Purim, I look the other way as bags and boxes of sweets and treats pile up outside our door. I make the conscious choice to be a practical mom, rather than a determined dietitian, but I do try to include some healthy choices in the gifts I give to others.
If your mishloach manot basket looks like it was sponsored by Hershey’s, perhaps you may want to try something different this year? We take time contemplating our costumes, why not our gift baskets?
We are obligated to give at least two foods to at least one person. While time and budget often dictate our choices, and there never seems to be enough of either, here are a few healthy and kosher substitutions that the kids may even thank you for…
- Use whole wheat flour, instead of white flour (white whole wheat flour is less noticeable).
- Substitute dark chocolate with a high cacao content.
- Replace some junk food with some toys, sports cards, or comic books.
I love the idea of building mishloach manot baskets around a theme. It gives me some focus and can get really fun. I am no Martha Stewart, so my friends know better than to expect award-winning craftsmanship, but I try to get points for creativity! Below you can find some of my favorite themes:
Taste of Israel – Olives, Hummus, Whole Wheat Pita Chips, Zaatar
Spa Surprise – Herbal Tea, Chobani Greek Yogurt, Apple Chips and Granola
Coffee Lovers – Fresh Ground Coffee, Flavored Creamers, Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
Happy Hour – Mixed Nuts, Light Beer, Whole Grain Pretzels
Roman Holiday – Whole Wheat Pasta, Sauce, Biscotti
Movie Night Light – Air Popped Seasoned Popcorn, Terra Chips, Dried Fruit
Marley Manot – Tropical Fruit Salad, Mini-Bar Imported Rum, Jamaican/Caribbean Spice Rub
PB&J –Natural Peanut Butter, All-Fruit Preserves, Whole Grain Bread
Very Veggie – Vegetable Snack Chips, Low-Calorie Dip, Edamame
Lower East Side – Whole Wheat Bagels with Low Fat Cream Cheese and Packaged Lox
Here are a few recipes to help you create your healthy mishloach manot and for your chance to WIN a case of Chobani Yogurt tell us your favorite flavor hamantashen below!
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About Tamar Genger MA, RD
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Jamie Geller is a bestselling author of the wildly successful QUICK & KOSHER cookbook...
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poppy, yum
apricot is THE best.
Congratulations!!! Jordan is the winner of the Chobani contest – thank you all for participating.
Apple!
I know some may find this odd, but I think there is nothing better than a prune Hamantashin with a orange essence dough.
id try the jelly. lol
I know a lot of people think it’s gross, but I love mun (poppyseed) filled hamentashen!
Cherry, or Chocolate Chip
Poppy seed – subtle, delicious.
Strawberry all the way.
Lemon/Lime – my new favorite!!!!! (It used to be apricot)
Oh, and I LOVE Chobani
chocolate filled & poppy too!!
!!
& chobani yogurts ROCK
Raspberry.
I might be one of the few who actually loves Prune. I also like poppy and also apricot.
me too, but you have to add the nuts just like grandma makes.
Prune definately. Brings back memories of childhood
Apricot is my favorite!
Poppy, of course. Really – no other filling compares. I don’t know what everyone else is talking about.
Raspberry!
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Hamantashen
Poppy is my all-time favorite!
PRUNE PRUNE PRUNE Hamantashen!!!!!!!
raspberry is my favorite
Raspberry RULES
Raspberry RULEZ
Prune is my favorite.
Yummy Apricot!
It’s all about poppy for me.
Fermentation Rules
Raspberry
Not typical, but my fave: Strawberry
I am a strawberry person but also like lemon!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’m planning to make pizza hamentashen with whole wheat flour to make pizza dough, and fold tomatoes and seasoning into the middle in a hamentashen shape.
Lemon or Strawberry.
Pineapple would be my choice.
Definitely the Whole Wheat Pumpkin!
I’d choose Raspberry…yum.
Raspberry Jam for me
thanks for the giveaway
Raspberry- it has always been my favorite!
I heart Raspberry!
Definitely poppyseed!
Raspberry
My favorite would be Lemon/Poppyseed
I like apricot
Lemon poppyseed as I so love anything poppyseed
It’s prune baby…prune all the way!
Strawberry
Strawberry/chocolate or cherry/chocolate. both take me back
Poppy is the winning flavor at our house.
Apricot is my all time fav! Raspberry is a close second especially if choclate is drizzled over it!
raspberyy!
Raspberry!
I like poppy seed, lemon, strawberry, chocolate… ok I don’t think there is any 1 flavor I don’t like
(and I LOVE Chobani)Thanks!
poppyseed
Raspberry!
Mmmm blueberry…! Recently tried chobani yogurt for the first time & it’s really good!
I think the Pumpkin Whole Wheat sounds yummy!!! Thanks.
Apricot, strawberry too.
I love apricot and or nuts
Thanks for the giveaway…apricot !!!
I love pumpkin the best…whole wheat makes it even better/healthier.
Love all the amazing comments, I never thought of some of these flavors, I hope some of you will post your recipes so we can all try them. The contest is now over, but stay tuned our next contest will be announced on Facebook today.
mohn for Purim.
otherwise, just had a dulce de leche.it just needed a kicker of espresso
Good old fashion Prune. My grandmother made the best – cooking her own prunes with the perfect amount of lemon juice & raisins added to it. I can still taste them now.
I love good quality apricot and raspberry, but last year I tasted amazing chocolate ones!
Apricot. Only apricot. The tartness of the filling balances out the sweetness of the cookie!