Healthy Holiday Recipes to Try This Year
It’s that time of year when spirits are bright, and recipes are anything but light! We know what a challenge it can be to stick to your goals and make healthy choices this time of year. During the holiday season, food temptations are at an all-time high. But we’re here to help! Take a look at these five healthy holiday recipes to help you stay on track with your health and fitness goals into 2022 and beyond.
5 Healthy Holiday Recipes
Peanut-Apple Crunch Balls
Prepare to fall in love with your new favorite healthy holiday treat: Peanut-Apple Crunch Balls!
Here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious treats from Diabetic Living Magazine:
- ¼ cup 68% vegetable oil spread
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 cup rice and wheat cereal flakes, coarsely crushed
- 1 cup bran flakes, coarsely crushed
- ⅓ cup finely snipped dried apples
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped peanuts
- ⅛ teaspoon apple pie spice
- 2 ounces white baking chocolate (with cocoa butter), chopped
- ¼ teaspoon shortening
Find the full recipe and instructions here.
Easy Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms that are healthy AND delicious? Sign us up!
This is what you’ll need to make this recipe from EatingWell:
- Cooking spray
- 1 ½ pounds medium-size fresh button mushrooms (about 30 mushrooms)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons whole-wheat panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs), divided
- 4 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup), divided
Find the full healthy holiday recipe and instructions here.
Roasted Beet Salad
It’s helpful to fill at least half of your plate with salad or veggies. And when you have a delicious salad recipe like this one to try, you’ll be glad you did!
You’ll need these ingredients to make it:
- 1 ½ pounds baby beets with greens attached
- 1 head garlic
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1 cup distilled white vinegar
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ cup finely chopped toasted walnuts
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
Find the full recipe and instructions here.
Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
There are so many benefits to incorporating more vegan meals into your diet. And with delicious recipes like this one from Eating Well, you’ll forget that they’re vegan when you’re so focused on how delicious they are.
To make these vegan scalloped potatoes, you need:
- 1 ½ pound Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 ½ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- ½ teaspoon white or black pepper, divided
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ cups unsweetened plain almond milk
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
Find the full recipe and instructions here.
Sugar Cut-Out Cookies
Using white whole wheat flour, this sugar cut-out cookie recipe offers a healthier (yet still delicious) alternative to this classic holiday recipe.
Here’s what you need to make this healthy holiday recipe:
Natural Decorating Sugars:
- ½ cup clear crystal sugar, white sparkling sugar, or sanding sugar (see Tips), divided
- “Holiday” red natural liquid dye (see Tips)
- Green natural liquid dye (see Tips)
Cookie Dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
- ⅔ cup white whole-wheat flour (see Tips)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup canola oil or corn oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, slightly softened
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- Finely grated zest of 1 medium lemon
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract or lemon extract
Find the full recipe and instructions here.
Try These Healthy Holiday Recipes This Year
When you proactively prepare and make these recipes ahead of time, you’ll be able to overcome temptation for less healthy alternatives! Bring these dishes to holiday parties, dinners, or simply have them on hand at home so you reach for something healthier when you’re faced with less healthy options.