How to Make a Healthier Version of Your Fave Baked Goods

When we are healthy, we feel good about ourselves. We are more productive at work, have more energy, and feel fresh throughout the day. Being healthy means eating the right foods and having the right habits.

Baked goods, for instance, are yummy and irresistible. However, the main problem with refined carbohydrates is that they provide a quick surge of energy but leave you feeling drained and lacking in energy a short time later. The reason for this is that the body digests and absorbs refined carbohydrates quickly.

Contrary to what many believe, refined carbohydrates do not provide many health benefits, such as fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, or phytochemicals. So how do you tweak your baked goods if you want to stay healthy while enjoying them? Here are some tips that could help.

1. Create Your Bread From Scratch

Salt, as well as being a preservative, is used in bread to add flavour. Most people, however, underestimate the amount of salt they add to their homemade bread. That is especially true when making baguettes, as the salt content is very high due to the long fermentation period.

If you bake bread from scratch, add less salt and use yeast. The yeast can add flavour to your bread without the addition of salt. It is possible and is slowly implemented by some bread manufacturers.

You can add a teaspoon or less salt per 500g of flour to make it healthier but still tasty.

2. Choose Healthier Flour

If you make bread or baked goods from scratch, you can substitute refined flour with healthy ingredients such as whole wheat flour. This flour is high in protein and fibre. These will help you feel fuller and prevent you from snacking on unhealthy foods.

You can also make your flour by blending beans, nuts, seeds, or grains in a blender or food processor. You can grind them in batches and store them in your freezer.

3. Try Natural and Healthier Flavourings

If you bake healthy bread, you can look for healthier flavourings. Instead of using refined white sugar, you can choose honey or agave for sweetness.

You can use apple juice in your bread dough instead of milk for a better flavour. You can add natural ingredients such as cinnamon, vanilla, or hazelnut extract if you want to use milk. That will make your bread smell and taste great—it’ll be both delicious and nutritious.

You can also use fruit puree on baked goods such as bananas and applesauce. They are delicious and will help to keep you healthy.

4. Use Unsaturated Fat

Unsaturated fat is an excellent way to make your baked goods healthier. It’s best to use unsaturated fats when baking a pie. They’re generally better for the body than saturated fats.

Unsaturated fat is liquid at room temperature. It is a good idea to use vegetable oil or coconut oil instead of traditional fats like butter or lard.

5. Choose Healthy Fats

Baked goods such as cakes and pastries are made from butter, eggs, and milk. While these can be healthy, they have a lot of saturated fats. Many people add butter to bread. However, this can be substituted with nut butter or corn oil. 

As you can see, you can still enjoy baked goods by tweaking them to make them healthier.

Conclusion

Even if baked goods are delicious and hard to resist, they are filled with unhealthy ingredients and are high in calories. The only way to make them healthier is by making them from scratch. You can also use more nourishing ingredients such as unsaturated fats, whole wheat flour, and natural flavourings. These tips will help you keep your diet balanced while enjoying baked goods. And with a healthier diet, you can have stronger immunity.

Artisanal Australia is a small Australian family business where you can shop for healthier, organic, natural, and eco-friendly health products. Whether you need Baking Flour or Ready to Make mixes in Australia, you can get one from our shop at a great price