5 Secrets for Making Holiday Foods Healthier

By Andrea Cohen
Published 11/4/2024
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
5 Secrets for Making Holiday Foods Healthier

Food is a highlight of many holiday celebrations. Whether you’re throwing a holiday party or hosting a traditional holiday meal, everyone looks forward to what’s on the table. But what you serve can be the difference between enjoying healthy holiday foods that taste delicious but don’t weigh you down or trudging through the celebration in a food coma. 

Making healthier holiday meals and dishes is one of the nicest things you can do for family and friends because it shows how much you care about the ones you love. Healthy holiday recipes don’t need to be bland or boring – in fact, the ones we’ve included here are likely to become additions to your holiday offerings for years to come because they taste so good.

5 Holiday Recipe Swaps for Healthier Eating

Wondering how to make holiday meals healthier while still drawing rave reviews? You may be surprised by how easy it is to transform your holiday favorites into lighter versions that are as good as the originals. Swapping out heavier fare for healthier alternatives is also a great way to make your holiday menu healthier. 

Here are 5 ways to serve healthy and easy holiday meals (along with delicious recipes!):

  1. 01

    Offer Healthier Appetizers

    Create a beautiful spread on your table with cut vegetables and healthy dips, such as hummus, bean dips, guacamole, and salsa. Add bowls of olives, nuts, or crispy chickpeas. Skewers are a fun way to serve fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, or cheese. If charcuterie is your thing, consider making individual cups filled with snackable favorites. 

    Tap into the holiday spirit by serving these festive appetizers:

  2. 02

    Keep The Main Course Leaner

    Offer leaner proteins as the main course, such as fish, poultry, or leaner cuts of meat. If guests will graze and mingle, serving finger foods that are not loaded with sauces will not only be healthier but easier to eat. Some good options are skewers of meat and veggies, spring rolls, lettuce wraps, and sliders.

    Here are some holiday-worthy healthy entrees that will steal the show:

  3. 03

    Serve Light and Healthy Sides

    Offer plenty of veggies and don’t hide them under heavy sauces or decadent toppings. For starchy sides, use whole grains such as wild rice, quinoa, or farro, or serve sweet potatoes. Toss together a beautiful and colorful salad. There are plenty of healthy side dishes that are sure to become family favorites.

    Here are some of our most popular holiday side dishes:

  4. 04

    Create Bite-Sized Desserts

    There’s no reason to skip the sweet treats, but don’t give people a reason to overindulge. Bite-sized cookies and pastries are portion-controlled and fun to eat. Puddings, mousses, and cheesecakes can be served in shot glasses. Don’t forget fruit-based desserts like chocolate-dipped apples, mini fruit tarts, or an assortment of fresh seasonal fruit. 

    You can’t go wrong with these holiday-inspired healthy dessert recipes:

  5. 05

    Make A Signature Drink

    Create a fun and festive drink with less (or no) alcohol and sugar so your guests can get into the spirit of the season without too many calories. From cocktails to mocktails, there are plenty of ways to create enticingly healthy drinks. Muddle berries and herbs, or add fresh cucumber, mint, and lime to sparkling water. Using garnishes, decorative ice, and rims coated with colorful sugar, infused salts, or fun sprinkles takes drinks to the next level. Give your drink a fun name to add to its mystique.

    These healthier holiday cocktails and mocktails are festive and fun:

These tips can help you plan a holiday meal where everyone gets into the spirit of the season without feeling weighed down or overindulging. You’ll feel good knowing you’re serving healthier holiday dishes and your guests won’t even know the difference because they’ll be too busy enjoying themselves with good company and delicious food and drinks. 

For more ideas on lightening up your holiday offerings, check out our blog on how to save 1,000 calories at holiday meals.

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