10 Healthy Holiday Dishes

Lets face it.

We all want to enjoy the holiday season, but none of us want to gain 10 pounds doing it.  My advice?  Balance the indulgent with the sensible.  Not every recipe you enjoy these next 6 weeks has to be laden with fat and sugar.  Some dishes are just naturally more healthy than others.  Here is a collection of Brittany’s Pantry recipes that fit that bill, along with a few tips for each one on how to prep it ahead of time to make your special day less hectic.  You can feel good about making them November, December, and every other month of the year!

Green Beans W/Mushrooms & Bacon
Lighter and definitely more appealing looking than a traditional casserole, this green bean dish is bursting with flavor and so darn good you may never make the old version again!  This takes minimal time and travels well too.  To prep it ahead of time, cook the bacon a day or two ahead and chill.  A quick pass through the microwave at the last minute will crisp it up when you are ready for it.  Chop the mushrooms so they are ready to sauté, and steam the green beans a bit the day before so all you have to do is assemble the dish in a minute or two in a pan on the stove.  An easy task to pass on to someone else!

Roast Broccoli and Roast Cauliflower
These methods are identical and both make for a fantastic, light, side dish.  Either (or both) go great with any roasted meat you can throw at it.  The flavor mellows a bit as well so picky eaters are more apt to give it a try.  Prep the veggies a day or two ahead of time so that all you have to do is dump them on a sheet pan, toss with oil and seasonings and throw in the oven!

Baked Sweet Potatoes W/Apples & Onions
We all love the traditional Sweet Potato Casserole that could easily pass for dessert.  But the fact that sweet potatoes (or yams) have a natural sweetness works in their favor-and yours!  Loaded with nutrients, they are a great vegetable to add color and a boost of vibrancy to your holiday meal.  Just be sure to pick and choose your recipes carefully.  This baked version can be put together earlier in the day and just baked off when the turkey or roast comes out of the oven, and it is MUCH less fattening than the traditional route.  It still has a bit of sweetness and the flavors we all love so no one will notice the pound of sugar and butter that are missing.

Slow Cooker Apple Oatmeal
Whats not to like?  Oatmeal and fruit are baked while you sleep.  ‘Nuff said.

Gluten-Free Apple Carrot Muffins
Not only are these sweet little muffins gluten free, but they are special enough to frost!  Add a just a dollop of cream cheese frosting to the tops and you have an instant dessert!  They are also great to bake and freeze ahead of time and just pull out to add to a breakfast or lunch buffet.

Chicken (Turkey) & Barley Soup
Use your leftover meat to make this super fast, yet healthy soup for lunch!  When you still have a crowd but you don’t want to take a ton of time for another meal, this is will fill you up without weighing you down!  Freeze the leftovers for later in the month.

Good-For-You Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bake them whenever and freeze them.  These are loaded with healthy ingredients and mix up super fast.  You can switch out the chocolate chips for white chocolate chips to make them even more festive looking.  Yum.  Yum.  Yum.

Fruit & Nut Rum Balls
These little gems are definitely sweet, but the fact that they are gluten free and full of fruit and nuts earns them a spot here on this list.  The tiny bites also help with portion control-one or two is enough!   Make them ahead and store them in a sealed container in the fridge.  Gorgeous and ridiculously good, they will be talked about for holidays to come!

Pomegranate Sorbet W/Mini Chocolate Chips
I cannot say enough good things about this recipe.  It is healthy and loaded with antioxidants, and the color makes it perfect for this time of year.  But it is just so incredibly fresh and clean and bright and tangy that you are going to want to make a double batch.  So light in fact, that it is absolutely a pleasure to polish off a dish after a heavy holiday meal.  Being frozen, this can obviously be made anytime BEFORE you serve it, as long as it has time to freeze.