Guilt-Free Holiday Baking Made Easy with PB2

December can be one of the most joyous times! It seems like the air fills with anticipation as we gather with loved ones, exchange gifts, and celebrate cherished traditions. Holiday parties, family dinners, and festive gatherings create opportunities for connection and community that many of us look forward to all year long.

Yet despite all this happiness, some people approach the season with an undercurrent of anxiety—specifically when it comes to food. The abundance of treats, the endless parties with buffet tables, the special dishes that only appear once a year—at times, this food-filled season can feel more stressful than celebratory. If you find yourself worrying about overindulging or "undoing" your progress from the rest of the year, you're far from alone.

But here's what Amanda Holtzer, Registered Dietitian and PB2 Foods partner, wants you to know: guilt has no place at your holiday table. Amanda emphasizes that the holidays are meant to be enjoyed, and when we approach festive eating with stress and restriction, we miss out on the satisfaction and connection that food brings to these special occasions.

So how do you find that balance between appreciating seasonal favorites and feeling good in your body? Here are some expert strategies for making this December your most delicious—and guilt-free—holiday season yet.

Rethinking "Guilt-Free" Eating

Let's get one thing straight: "guilt-free" doesn't mean restrictive. It's not about over-analyzing your diet or choosing only "healthy" options at every meal. True guilt-free eating means removing the moral judgment we often attach to food choices. There are no "good" or "bad" foods—just different foods that serve different purposes.

Guilt often stems from all-or-nothing thinking. When people tell themselves they'll be "perfect" during the holidays, they inevitably feel like failures after having one Christmas cookie or a piece of pie at the holiday potluck. This mindset is what creates the guilt spiral, not the food itself. So try to give yourself the permission to enjoy holiday treats mindfully while incorporating nourishing foods that make you feel energized and content.  

What Makes a Holiday Treat Healthier?

When you're preparing holiday treats at home or choosing what to make for a gathering, certain nutritional elements can help those meals work better for your body. Here's what you should be aiming for: 

Protein Content: Protein helps stabilize blood sugar and keeps you satiated. When treats include a protein source—whether that's nuts, nut butters, Greek yogurt, or eggs—they become more substantial and less likely to leave you reaching for another serving. 

Adding PB2 Original or PB2 with Cocoa to your holiday baking instantly boosts protein without extra prep or complicated ingredients. For the ultimate powdered nut protein punch, PB2 Performance products (available with Cocoa, Vanilla, and Almond Protein with Vanilla) also pack in 10 grams of protein per serving—while still working with a wide variety of traditional recipes. 

Fiber for Sustained Energy: Fiber slows digestion, which means steadier energy levels rather than the spike-and-crash cycle that can take a toll on your day. Look for treats made with whole grains, oats, fruits, or nuts. When baking at home, simple swaps like replacing whole wheat flour for half the all-purpose flour in a recipe can increase fiber content without dramatically changing texture or taste. 

Recipes like Savory-Sweet Roasted Stuffed Apples (made with PB2 Crunchy) are a great example of this pairing in action—combining the natural fiber of apples with the crunch and protein of peanuts.

Healthy Fats for Satisfaction: Fats aren't the enemy—they're essential for feeling full and satisfied—but it’s true that the wrong kind of fats can make a dent in any healthy diet. Treats that include sources like nut butters, avocado, coconut, or dark chocolate tend to be more filling and better for you than fat-free versions, because they are higher in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are beneficial for heart and overall health. 

PB2's powdered nut butter options—including Powdered Peanut Butter, Powdered Almond Butter, and Powdered Cashew Butter— are the best of both worlds, providing the richness of traditional nut butters with significantly less fat overall. This means you can enjoy that nutty flavor and creamy texture in your holiday treats while keeping calories in check. This is especially useful when you want to add depth to frostings, glazes, or no-bake treats without the heaviness of regular nut butters.

Natural Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers: While there's nothing wrong with traditional sugar in moderation, incorporating natural sweetness from ingredients like mashed banana, applesauce, dates, or maple syrup can add nutrients alongside sweetness. Warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger can also enhance perceived sweetness, allowing you to use less added sugar while maximizing flavor. 

Classic recipes like our Peanut Thumbprint Cookies with Jam Filling (using PB2 Organic) let the natural fruit sweetness from the jam shine, while Peanut Butter Blossoms made with PB2 Pure (containing no added sugar or salt) give you complete control over sweetness levels. For a decadent yet balanced treat, try White Chocolate Cocoa Peanut Butter Cups made with PB2 with Cocoa—the cocoa provides rich chocolate flavor again, with minimal added sugar.

Before Partaking: Set Yourself Up for Success

How you approach the hours leading up to a holiday treat opportunity can significantly impact how you feel during and after you partake. Which is why we love a good pre-meal strategy like this one!

Don't Skip Meals Earlier in the Day: One of the biggest mistakes people make is "saving" their calories for the big treat encounter. Amanda notes that when you arrive at a celebration hungry, you're much more likely to overeat past the point of comfort, potentially triggering guilt and physical discomfort.

Instead, eat normally throughout the day. Have a balanced breakfast with protein and fiber, like a slice of Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread made with PB2 Performance with Cocoa, for a well-balanced morning treat. If the party is in the evening, enjoy a light lunch that includes vegetables and lean protein. Our Pork Tenderloin made with PB2 Powdered Almond Butter is an impressive yet simple protein option that pairs well with your favorite veggies and reheats beautifully throughout the week. The goal is to arrive at the celebration genuinely hungry but not ravenous.

Hydrate Intentionally: Often what we perceive as hunger is actually thirst. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and continue sipping water as you partake in holiday treats. This aids digestion and helps you tune into your body's actual fullness signals.

A quick tip: mix up a protein-packed shake with PB2 Performance in the morning or early afternoon before your evening celebration. Blend it with water or milk, a frozen banana, and ice for a hydrating drink that keeps you nourished without feeling overfull before the main event.

Move Your Body: A morning walk, yoga session, or quick workout does more than burn calories—it helps you connect with your body and often makes you more mindful of how different foods make you feel. Plus, movement can reduce stress, which is particularly valuable during the often-hectic holiday season.

Holiday Treat Time! Enjoyment Without Excess

When you're at the holiday gathering, trying to decide how many treats to indulge in at home, or staring down the workplace dessert table, here are some ways to focus on presence and pleasure rather than rules and restriction:

Fill Your Plate Strategically: Start by surveying all the options before filling your plate. Then build your meal thoughtfully: fill half your plate with vegetables (yes, even at holiday meals—roasted Brussels sprouts and green beans count!), one-quarter with protein, and one-quarter with the special indulgent dishes you're most excited about. This ensures you're getting nourishment while still enjoying those once-a-year favorites.

Savor What You Love: Choose foods that you truly love and that feel special to the season. If your grandmother's famous pie only happens once a year, absolutely have a slice and enjoy every bite. Skip the store-bought cookies you could have any time— they might not be worth the plate space.

That said, whether you're hosting or contributing to the celebration, consider providing treats that are both festive and nourishing. Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Bombs made with PB2 Original add excitement to the dessert table, while a stunning Pear Frangipane Tart with PB2 Powdered Almond Butter looks elegant and tastes indulgent without being overly heavy. For a crowd-pleasing option that works as both a sweet and savory contribution, try PB2 Organic  Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls (which are also so fun to pre-package as individual treats for friends to take home). 

Eat slowly: Put your fork down between bites. Engage in conversation. When you're present and attentive, you're more likely to feel satisfied with reasonable portions.

Honor Your Fullness: Check in with yourself throughout the meal. You don't need to clean your plate or keep eating just because food is available. It's perfectly acceptable to stop when you're comfortably satisfied, even if others are still eating.

After the Feast: Reset Without Restriction

The day after a big holiday meal, resist the urge to "make up for" yesterday's eating with extreme restriction. This is where many people derail themselves.

Return to Your Normal Routine: Simply resume your regular eating pattern. Have a healthy breakfast. Drink plenty of water. Move your body in a way that feels good. You can even continue to add in a wholesome dessert like Peanut Butter and Chocolate Spread Rolls with PB2 Pure or PB2 with Cocoa White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups for a touch of sweet every now and then. There's no need for punishment or compensation—just consistency.

Add Extra Vegetables: In the days following holiday meals, emphasize vegetables at your meals. Not because you need to "detox" or "cleanse," but because vegetables are hydrating, fiber-rich, and energizing. They help your body feel good and get back to baseline.

Be Patient and Compassionate: You might feel bloated or sluggish for a day or two after partaking in holiday treats—that's completely normal. Your body knows how to process food. Give it time, stay hydrated, and trust the process. Avoid stepping on the scale for a few days if that number tends to impact your mood. Remember that temporary water retention is not the same as actual weight gain.

At the end of the day, enjoying holiday treats guilt-free isn't about following perfect strategies or making all the "right" choices. It's about shifting your mindset from restriction to nourishment, from judgment to enjoyment. The holidays come but once a year. These meals, these treats, these traditions—they're part of what makes this season special. When you approach them with presence, gratitude, and self-compassion rather than guilt and anxiety, you're able to truly enjoy both the food and the experience, something we are all about at PB2 Foods.

So this December, give yourself permission to enjoy that cookie, that pie, that special family recipe. Nourish your body with foods that energize you. Move in ways that feel good. And most importantly, release the guilt. You deserve to savor every moment of this holiday season—treats included.

Ready to create your own guilt-free holiday treats? Below you'll find our complete roundup of all our favorite PB2 festive recipes—because you really can have the best of both worlds this holiday season!

	Peanut Thumbprint Cookies with Jam Filling These classic thumbprint cookies get a protein boost from PB2 while maintaining that perfect crumbly-tender texture. Pretty jewel-toned jam center adds a fruity sweetness that balances out the nutty richness in every bite.
	Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Bombs Watch these chocolate spheres melt into your mug, releasing a swirl of rich cocoa and creamy peanut butter for an ultra-cozy take on one of our favorite holiday dessert drinks. They're as fun to make as they are to watch them disappear!
	Peanut Butter Blossoms An iconic peanut butter cookie topped with a chocolate kiss becomes even better when made with PB2, delivering all that nostalgic flavor and an updated nutritional profile. To keep the holiday magic going, we like to freeze a batch—they’ll keep for several months.
	Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread Adding vegetables into dessert has never been this delicious—or this protein-packed, thanks to PB2. Moist, chocolatey and secretly nutritious, this bread totally deserves a spot on the dessert table.
	Peanut Butter and Chocolate Spread Rolls Imagine cinnamon rolls, but swirled with peanut butter and chocolate instead. Add these pull-apart beauties to your holiday brunch or whenever you want something indulgent that still sneaks in some protein.
	Savory-Sweet Roasted Stuffed Apples Baked apples bridge the gap between side dish and dessert with a savory-sweet filling that's unforgettably unexpected. The warmth of cinnamon and nutty richness creates a seasonal flavor combo that works incredibly well during the holiday season.
	Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls Sticky, sweet and satisfyingly crunchy—popcorn balls always bring back nostalgic memories and provide a healthy dessert option. Add a few to a little cellophane bag topped with a bow for a fun take-home treat.
	Almond Butter Pork Tenderloin Fact! Nut butters aren't just for sweet treats—almond butter creates an unexpectedly rich glaze for tender pork. The result is a rich, gratifying dinner, no formal dessert required!
	Pear Frangipane Tart A luscious almond cream filling (made lighter with PB2 Almond) is the star of our elegant French-inspired tart. Topped with delicate pear slices, it looks impressive enough for special occasions but comes together more easily than you'd expect.