The word “healthy” can be fraught with confusion. We all strive to be healthy, and healthy living is certainly an attribute. We try to make “healthy” choices during the day. Call me “healthy” and I’ll react with pride.
But call my cake “healthy,” and I might wince. For whatever reason, when healthy modifies a recipe – and especially a dessert – my first instinct is to shy away from it. For whatever reason, the word “healthy” seems strongly pejorative when it’s the adjective in front of a meal. Call my food delicious or creative or inspired, but please don’t call it healthy!
So, when Caitlin suggested we make this “Healthy Carrot Cake,” my first reaction was “Can’t we make a good carrot cake?” Which, of course, she found very upsetting. So I relented, …