How to Make Healthy Date Cakes for Middle Eastern and North African Celebrations

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Cakes are a traditional dessert in the Middle East and North Africa region, which decorates Eid tables. The cake consists of dough stuffed with dates, which is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, in addition to being a natural source of sugars that are beneficial to the body.

Cakes with dates are served on special occasions, holidays, weddings, and religious occasions, and can be eaten as a snack between meals, and it is considered a healthy option to obtain the necessary energy during the day.

Here are some tips provided by the clinical nutritionist, Dina Jamal Keshta, to prepare cakes in a healthy way:

• Replace white flour with whole wheat flour for more fiber. Fiber helps fill you up, maintain a healthy digestive system, control blood sugar, and lower cholesterol levels.
• Use honey instead of sugar for sweetening. This is in order to reduce the amount of sugar consumed per day, as excessive sugar intake leads to increased inflammation and weakening the body’s immune system.
• Choose low-fat milk instead of full-fat to reduce the amount of fat you eat. This will help you avoid weight gain and associated diseases such as high blood sugar, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
• Use olive oil in cake dough because it contains anti-inflammatory and oxidative properties that have been scientifically proven to reduce the incidence of heart disease and some cancers.
• Add cinnamon to the filling of dates, as it is an antioxidant, lowers blood sugar, and improves insulin sensitivity.

Two pieces of cake are enough for a snack.