We’ve all made it this far in the holiday season, doing our best to make healthy, wise decisions when it comes to the food we eat. It’s not an easy job! The holidays are the time of year that most people gain weight due to the change in diet, averaging an increase of 5-7 pounds. Here are 9 delicious, healthy holiday recipes that will help keep you on track the last few weeks of the season- enjoy!
Healthy Vegan Cornmeal Pancakes
These pancakes (also called Johnny cakes or corn cakes), are oil free, and don’t have any refined sugar. They contain rolled oats and bananas, both of which will help keep you full for longer. You can add fresh fruit as a topping, or a little bit of peanut butter and roll them up, for a snack on the go!
Turkey and Egg Breakfast Casserole
Containing egg, turkey, and sweet potatoes, this breakfast dish is sure to keep you satisfied and help you stay away from other foods (ahem, all those treats at work) that would otherwise throw you off track. This casserole is also easy to pack for those mornings you’re running out the door.
Cranberry Rosemary One-Pan Chicken
One-pan dishes are one of my favorite ways to cook because you don’t destroy the kitchen and still get a delicious dish out of it. This chicken contains rosemary, cranberries, and garlic. Also full of fresh herbs, this is a great pick as the main dish at any dinner and the left-overs will pack easily for lunch the next day.
Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad
Tasty recipes like this leave no excuse to include a salad in your daily menu. The quinoa provides loads of vitamins and minerals and being a protein-packed grain, it also satisfies your hunger. The butternut squash provides a wonderful element to the salad and is also a low-calorie, but nutrient rich food- including vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium.
Hearty Beef Stew
This hearty stew is sure to please the palate and satisfy your hunger. Beef, potatoes, carrots, and tons of delicious flavors mix together in this unforgettable combo. Dishes like this are wonderful because they do not lack flavor and fill you with smaller portions- so you get the satisfaction of a hearty meal without loading up on lots of food (and the additional calories).
Cinnamon Apples
These tender cinnamon apples can be eaten as a dessert dish, enjoyed with plain Greek yogurt, or added as a topping to the Johnny Cakes we shared earlier in the post. They are quick to make and will satisfy your sweet tooth without eating a whole slice of pie that will contain more fat, sugar, and calories.
Ginger Molasses Cookies
The flavors of molasses, maple syrup, cinnamon, and ginger fit perfectly with the cooler temps and festive spirit of the holiday season. Pairing these with a hot cup of tea or coffee is a wonderful option for an after-dinner treat. They are allergy safe (gluten-free, paleo friendly, nut, and dairy free), so they are sure to delight the whole crowd.
Almond Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Bark
Chocolate bark is so easy to make- only three ingredients to collect for this recipe! This chocolate bark contains almonds, which are a nutritional powerhouse. The pomegranates add a fun, fresh element to this treat, and are also high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. This recipe is also easy to make in quantity, so you can wrap up portions and gift them to all your loved ones.
Lemon Blueberry Bread
This delicious bread is another heavy-hitter; it can be a breakfast option, a dessert, or a gift! Pairing lemon and blueberry presents a wonderfully tangy, and yet sweet, flavor and you won’t feel guilty enjoying this bread. The recipe does not require white sugar, but uses maple syrup or honey instead- avoiding refined white sugar is one way to help keep things on the healthy side. The egg and banana also provide protein and resistant starch, which keeps you feeling full, longer.
We hope you find these recipes helpful (and tasty!). They make wonderful gifts that can be dropped off at the doorsteps of friends and family; while many won’t be gathering together this holiday, there’s no reason we can’t still find ways to spread cheer.
If you have any favorite recipes that are healthy and delicious, please share in the comments!
