Honey has been around as a sweetener much longer than sugar. Isn’t it about time it took the sweetening reins back over?
When used in moderation, honey has many health benefits – especially when it’s local. Honey helps bodies adjust to local allergens, lessening allergies up to 60% according to some studies. Honey can be used as a cough suppressant, boosts energy and may even help with short term memory. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s loaded with antioxidants, amino acids and a wide array of vitamins and minerals.
With farmers market season just around the corner, there’s no reason not to start slowly implementing honey into your recipes.
1. Energy Bar Bites
Sometimes your sweet tooth takes over you, leaving you consumed with the need to get your next fix (just me?). Luckily, these energy bar bites are as sweet as they are good for you.
2. No Bake Coconut Crack Bars
These no bake desserts have a very fitting name. Just try to have just one.
Luckily, they won’t leave you feeling guilty after you’ve eaten the full pan.
3. Honey Glazed Salmon
Combine the vitamins, protein, amino acids and omega 3 fatty acids found in salmon with the benefits of honey mentioned above and you’ve got yourself quite the meal. Go ahead, make this meal and then pat yourself on the back for your delicious, deceitfully healthy dinner.
4. Honey Lime Vinaigrette
Take your salad to the next level with this vinaigrette. In fact, take anything you would make vinaigrette with to the next level. Tangy and sweet, this vinaigrette is also full of antioxidants (limes), polyphenols (grape seed oil) and iron (cumin).
5. Honey Oat Bread
You’ll never knead another bread.
A pun much more relevant after you’ve read the recipe, this no-knead bread is so soft and fluffy you may never eat another bread again. Especially when you compare this ingredient list to any store-bought bread.
6. Honey Mint Lemonade
Refreshing, delicious, and healthy.
7. Honey Roasted Butternut Squash
If you’re not a fan of butternut squash, this recipe will ease you into the wonderful world of squash.
8. Honey Cupcake With Honey Cream Cheese Frosting
This honey cupcake with honey frosting will get you buzzing in the best way. Ignore the fact that it’s a cupcake frosted with a cream cheese frosting and focus on the all of the honey. Even if this isn’t the best for you, it is perfect for a summer picnic.
9. Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs
The flavors combine beautifully, creating the perfect meatball. Serve it as an appetizer and impress all of your guests or serve them for dinner and watch your family devour them.
10. Homemade Cough Drops
This recipe is simple (only four ingredients!) and, according to the author, effective.
11. Honey Cornbread Muffins
You moist try these!
12. Blueberry Syrup
Your pancakes, waffles and anything else with syrup will be next-level deliciousness with this syrup. Added bonus? Blueberries are a “superfood” – meaning they’re packed with antioxidants, fiber, potassium and more. Not that into blueberries? Just replace them with your favorite berry!
13. Honey Cloud Pancakes
Top these delicious pancakes with the syrup above and you’ll never float down from cloud 9.
14. Chemo Moonshine
Anyone who has experienced chemotherapy, or known someone going through it, knows it is a rough experience. According to the author, this alcohol-free mixture was the only thing that helped with her nausea.
15. Honey Sriracha Wings
Sweet, spicy and simple. Personally, I don’t understand the sriracha craze, but that said – you’ll want to keep this recipe.
16. Banana Honey Cinnamon Smoothie
Every single thing in this smoothie is good for you. It’s delicious enough to make for a snack or breakfast and it’s simple enough that even us non-morning types can handle making it in the morning.
17. Salt Honey Ice Cream
Can you tell I have a slight love affair with dessert? This ice cream is the perfect combination of sweet and salty, and may be the only thing you eat all summer….I won’t judge.
18. Honey and Tangerine Whipped Goat Cheese Crostini
This combination of flavors is simply genius and scrumptious. Tangy, fresh and smooth, it makes the perfect party appetizer.
19. Turmeric Milk
This comforting drink is delicious, calming and nutritious. Turmeric has been used as a healing spice throughout history, likely because it is rich in nutrients, phytonutrients, antioxidants and anti inflammatory compounds. Give this milk a try the next time you’re starting to feel ill or want to relax.
20. Spicy Honey Roasted Almonds
These roasted almonds are the ultimate snack, you’ll just have to try and refrain from eating them all at once.
21. Rhubarb and Honey Soda
A fermented soda drink full of probiotics – it’s as refreshing as it is good for you! One of the more complicated recipes on this list, this soda is worth the work!
22. Honey Avocado Dressing
Don’t be turned off by the thought of avocado as a dressing. Avocados are incredibly nutritious, so try to let that motivate you into trying this. It’s amazing and so good for you!
23. Citrus Honey Glazed Vegetables
These are so delicious, your kids will eat them up in the blink of an eye!
24. Buttermints
Defy your sugar cravings with this simple, and surprisingly filling, buttermints.
25. Simple Detox Drink
Maybe you buy into the drink detox craze, maybe you don’t. Regardless of the craze and your feelings, just know that every single thing in this drink is good
Of course, you don’t have to go as big as some of these recipes to implement honey into your diet. You can slowly implement honey by using it to replace granulated sugar in most recipes. Local, raw honey is always better for you, but it can be costly. The fructose in honey is still better for you than most other sugars, so buying it off the shelf is still beneficial!
Featured photo credit: Honey-Comb/Abul Hussain via flickr.com
