We all have some type of food dilemma over the holidays: what to cook, how many to prepare for, whose restrictions to keep in mind, and most importantly, how much to eat ourselves! Here are some tips and a few recipes to help keep tradition going while also helping you feel just a little bit lighter after that second plate:
Utilize vegetables: It’s harvest season, so try to make your vegetables the star of the show! Roasted carrots, butternut squash, or brussels sprouts are perfect for this time of year! Dress them up with herbs and spices of your choice or a balsamic glaze for some extra flavor!
Adjust fan favorites: Many traditional Christmas side dishes can provide lots of nutrients with a few simple tweaks. For example:
Swap the cream of mushroom soup in the classic green bean casserole with milk and Greek yogurt.
Make your own cranberry sauce with honey or maple syrup instead of store-bought varieties that often contain high fructose corn syrup and other additives.
Ditch the marshmallows in a traditional sweet potato casserole and opt for a crunchy oat and pecan topping instead.
Alter the cooking method: Try steaming, baking, grilling, braising, or air-frying your foods rather than deep frying them, and use healthy, plant-based oils instead of butter when sautéing.
“Everything Bagel” Pumpkin Seeds: An excellent source of fiber, magnesium and zinc, these pumpkin seeds make a tasty appetizer for those friends or family members who have a habit of lurking just outside the kitchen hoping to catch a few bites before the big meal!
Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip: Tangy, salty feta with Greek yogurt and maple-syrup sweetened cranberry sauce gives a great, light flavor and best of all: it’s easy to whip up!
Garlic Cheese Mashed Potatoes: Not only are they delicious, but they have a bit more nutrition folded in too. Cottage cheese is the secret ingredient that gives these potatoes a creamy consistency and a higher protein content.
High Protein Mac & Cheese: This creamy high protein mac and cheese has everything you love about traditional mac and cheese and packs an impressive thirty-five grams of protein and eight grams of fiber per serving.
Roasted Carrots with Onion, Fennel and Honey: Root vegetables find their way to the holiday table in this sweet and savory vegetable preparation that's as compelling as it is healthy.
Hazelnut & Brussles Sprouts Salad: If you're sick of the traditional prep for Brussels sprouts (and looking to cut back on a little of the oil required for roasting), try this fresh and beautiful salad, which combines shredded sprouts, fresh herbs, citrus, toasted hazelnuts, and just a touch of bleu cheese.
Roasted Honeynut Squash Stuffed with Cranberry Rice Pilaf: These little roasted honeynut squash are so cute, perfectly portioned, and practically begging to be stuffed with this amazing Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf. Honeynut squash is so sweet, and pairs wonderfully with nutty and aromatic cranberry rice pilaf.
Vegan Sausage Gravy: In this vegan sausage gravy, the gravy is made from a simple combination of plant-based milk, cornstarch, vegan butter, and vegetable broth. You still get the creaminess of regular gravy, without the extra saturated fat.
Sources:
Comments