Here they come…ready or not! The holidays are coming quickly upon us and soon we’ll be neck-deep in twinkly lights, garland, wrapping paper and bows. We’ll be making lists, shopping, singing of joy and peace, and gathering by the fireplace with family and friends. And cooking. And eating. Lots of cooking and lots of eating.

When I think of Christmas, one of my favorite traditions is baking my Christmas Sugar Cookies, a family recipe that’s been handed down to me by my mother. My kids love them, my family loves them, and it wouldn’t be Christmas without those sweet, melt-in-your-mouth iced Christmas trees.

There’s also the traditional Pancake Night we have every December, traditional candy we like to buy, Soup, Canapés, cocktails and treats at our Christmas Eve party, Cinnamon Rolls and breakfast casserole on Christmas morning, and more sweet treats in the evening. It’s a wonder I’m not in a sugar coma on December 26th. Maybe I always have been, I just can’t remember it!

December is definitely a rough time for most people when it comes to keeping their nutrition in line. Believe me, I’m one of those people. It’s hard to keep in step with your nutritional goals when everywhere you turn, the delectables are tempting you. It’s hard, but it’s not impossible! If you’re looking to “lighten up” your holiday meals this year, or you’re bringing a dish to a soiree across town, here are some traditional Holiday Food Makeovers and tips that you might find helpful.

Holiday Food Makeovers: Appetizer and Drinks

There are plenty of delectable “starters” out there around the holidays. Sometimes that’s all you’ve got to work with when you go to certain parties. Cheese balls and crackers, spicy meatballs, tiny bacon-wrapped “lil smokies”, chips and dip, sausage balls…the list of deliciousness goes on and on. And then there’s the cocktails, and the wine, and the eggnog, and the spiced rum, and the….

Even before the main course, with these choices, you’re likely to go overboard on calories, fat, sugar AND carbs and the night has barely even started! If you are the one hosting, there are ways to lighten up the 1st course. If you’re not, then taking a small bite of the things you most enjoy and then walking away is a good tip. For your drinks, stopping at one, or picking a lower sugar option will help when it comes to keeping your holiday calories in check. Here are some healthier options for holiday appetizers and drinks:

Holiday Food Makeover: Healthy Homemade Ranch Dip

Recipe by wonkywonderful.com

Ingredients

• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 T Dried Chopped Onion
• 2 tsp Dried Dill
• 1 T Dried Parsley
• ¼ tsp Ground Pepper
• ¼ tsp Sea Salt
• Zest of 1 Lemon
• 1 T Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 Cup Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients and stir thoroughly.

2. Seal in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2+ hours before serving

3. Serve with vegetables.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Cinnamon Toasted Almonds

Almonds and other nuts are a fantastic option when it comes to appetizers or snacks. They are packed with heart-healthy substances and have protein as well to help hold you over until the main course. Just don’t overdo it because though the fat in nuts is the healthy kind, you don’t need too much of a good thing.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of whole almonds
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil (coconut oil adds a bit of sweetness)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250º.

2. In a large bowl, add almonds, cinnamon, salt, and olive oil.

3. Toss to coat all almonds thoroughly. Spread out on baking sheet in a single layer.

4. Roast for 1 hour, remove from oven and serve immediately or store in airtight container.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Spicy Roasted Almonds

Recipe by Tiffany McCauley, author of Clean Eating Freezer Meals

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1 ½  tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½  tsp cayenne
• ½  tsp. cinnamon
• ¼  tsp. salt or to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.

2. Stir all ingredients together in a bowl until the almonds are well coated.

3. Spread the nuts out over a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until golden brown. Stir halfway through the baking time.

NOTE: Keep an eye on these in the last 5 minutes of baking as they can go from baked to burnt pretty quickly.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Christmas Tree Fruit and Cheese Platter

Nothing says “appetizer” like cheese and fruit! Be creative with your holiday shape, but a fun one to try is a Christmas tree. Start at the top with a star-cut piece of cheese, then place a tier of grapes, followed by a tier of cubed cheese, moving on down and expanding out to make the Christmas tree shape. You may use a variety of fruits and cheeses to add color and even add veggies if you desire. Creativity is king here. Finish with the “trunk” of the tree using a Celery stalk or another piece of cheese cut as desired. This is a nice, clean, protein-rich and vitamin-rich appetizer that will please almost everybody.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Eggnog

Recipe by cdkitchen.com

My brother in law loves, I mean LOVES Eggnog. The second it’s out on the store shelves, he’s bringing it home. Though it’s definitely not so waistline friendly, there’s a way to lighten it up and still enjoy it!

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, separated
• 4 cups skim milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsps sugar substitute
• ¼ cup brandy or rum
• 1 dash nutmeg

Directions

1. Combine the egg yolks and milk in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the mixture coats a metal spoon. Cool.

2. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add to the milk mixture, then add the vanilla, sugar substitute, and extract. Mix lightly. Cover and chill.

3. To serve, pour the eggnog into cups and sprinkle with nutmeg.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Pomegranate Rosemary Martini

Recipe by Cynthia Sass, author of Flat Belly Diet

A low calorie, antioxidant-rich cocktail, this martini proves to be a great holiday option over the sweeter, sugar-filled varieties that are mixed with sodas.

Ingredients

• 1 shot vodka
• ¼ cup 100% pomegranate juice
• 1 T fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 2 T water
• 1 T pomegranate seeds
• 1 spear fresh rosemary
• Ice

Directions

1. Combine juices, water, and vodka in shaker

2. Add ice and shake well

3. Pour into martini glass, garnish with seeds and rosemary

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Hot Apple Cider Rum

Recipe by cheesepleasebyjess.com

If you like warm drinks on a cold night, you might be a “Hot Buttered Rum” kinda guy/gal. But the butter certainly isn’t low on calories, so a great way to lighten it up is to spike your apple cider! The fresh fruit juice isn’t necessarily low on calories, but it’s certainly a “lighter” option and has some quality nutrients.

Ingredients

• 1 part dark rum
• 2 parts apple cider
• 1 orange, peeled and sliced
• 3-5 cinnamon sticks
• 1 handful of cloves

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan combine all of the ingredients and heat over low heat until warm.

2. Serve in a glass mug and garnish with additional orange slices and cinnamon.

NOTE: You also easily could substitute this cocktail with Bourbon or other dark liquor that you have on hand.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Main Course Makeovers

The traditional main course for holiday celebrations is usually a roasted turkey or baked ham. While these dishes aren’t usually THAT high calorie, they CAN be, depending on how they’re prepared. Here are two options for serving a turkey or ham that won’t break the bank on your calorie count.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast

Recipe by pocketchangegourmet.com

This isn’t a recipe for a whole turkey, but could EASILY be modified for one. I’ve used this several times and can attest to its deliciousness.

Ingredients

• 1 boneless turkey breast, 2-3 pounds
• 1-2 T olive oil
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp minced dry onion
• 1 tsp seasoned salt
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp parsley flakes
• ½ tsp basil

Directions

1. Thaw turkey breast completely in the fridge

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set out roasting pan or heavy deep oven proof dish

3. Combine all seasonings in a small bowl and mix well

4. Coat turkey with olive oil and rub in the spice mixture

5. Place in baking pan on top of 3 or 4 aluminum foil balls

6. Cook at 350 degrees for 90 minutes until internal temperature is 165-170 degrees

7. Remove from oven and cover with foil, allow to rest 20-30 minutes before slicing

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Skinny Honey Baked Ham

Recipe by skinnykitchen.com

Traditional hams are basted, baked in a honey, sugar, fruit juice type glaze. This is no different, but the AMOUNTS of the glaze ingredients are lower, therefore making it lighter.

One Trader Joe’s spiral cut, bone-in ham (about 4 pounds, fully cooked) or your favorite. But if nitrates are a concern for you, check to make sure there are none.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup pineapple juice or apple juice
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 2 T firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 T honey
• 1 T orange juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Place ham, cut end down, in a large 13 x 9 pan. Throw away the glaze packet, if using the Trader Joe’s ham.

3. In a small bowl, mix together pineapple juice and orange juice. Spoon 2 tablespoons over ham.  Bake ham for 5 minutes. Remove from oven drizzle 2 more tablespoons all over ham. Bake for an additional 5 minutes and spoon the remaining juices over the ham. Remove ham from oven.

4. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, honey and 1 tablespoon of orange juice.

5. Spoon mixture all over outside of ham. Place ham back in oven and bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Side Dish Makeovers

Side dishes are where it’s at! SO many options and different flavors and varieties. They can make or break a meal. Think of your Thanksgiving turkey without a side of mashed potatoes! It’s uncalled for! But the calories they pack can also add up quickly, so it pays to be careful what you put on the side of your plate.

Traditional side dishes are usually full of carbs but the way you prepare them can certainly make a difference.

Vegetables are always a smart choice. When it comes to preparing those, roasting is always a good option and using small amounts of healthy oil and generous amounts of spices, rather than sautéing in larger amounts of unhealthy oil and loads of salt, makes your veggies a healthy option.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Roasted Green Beans with Dried Cranberries & Almonds

Recipe by eatthelove.com

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs fresh green beans
• 2-3 T extra virgin olive oil
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
• ¼ cup sliced almonds
• ¼ cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425˚F. Rinse off the green beans then cut or snap off the ends of the green beans.

2. Place green beans in a large bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Add the salt and pepper and toss together to coat.

3. Pour the coated green beans into a rimmed baking sheet and spread them into an even single layer. Place in oven to roast for 15 minutes.

4. Once the 15 minutes are up, pull the pan out and sprinkle the almonds and cranberries over the green beans and place back in oven for 5 more minutes.

5. Remove from oven and add any additional salt and pepper to taste.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Roasted Parmesan Sweet Potatoes

Recipe by teeniecakes.com

If you can handle NOT having *mashed* potatoes with your meal during the holidays, this is a great alternative. Known for their high amount of beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, potassium and fiber, sweet potatoes are a very nutritious option. You can certainly serve them mashed as well, but this recipe is certain to be a crowd pleaser. Serves 3-4.

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes, cubed
• 2 large cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 T extra virgin Olive Oil
• 2-3 T parmesan cheese, finely grated
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and position oven rack to middle position. Line the bottom of a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2. In a medium sized bowl, place the cubed sweet potatoes, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, dried thyme. Distribute the ingredients evenly to cover the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Transfer the sweet potato mixture to the prepared baking sheet and spread out the potatoes so that they are in a single layer.

4. Roast in oven for about 20 minutes -OR- until the sweet potatoes can be easily pierced with a sharp knife.

5. Set the oven to broil and broil until the tops of the sweet potatoes start to brown for a few minutes (keep an eye on the potatoes when broiling, as you want to take care not to burn them).

6. Serve immediately.

 

Holiday Food Makeover: Pear, Pomegranate and Spinach Salad

Recipe by cookingclassy.com

Salads can be fantastic side dishes for your holiday meals, but you can very easily sabotage your healthy salad when you add fat, sugar and artificial ingredient laden dressings and loading them with not-so-healthy toppings. Sticking to the basics is usually the smart thing to do when you’re trying to eat clean. Here’s a festive salad that will look as good as it tastes on your holiday dinner table.

Ingredients

Salad:

• ⅔ cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
• ¾ cup pomegranate arils
• 3 oz feta cheese, crumbled
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 2 Bartlett pears (firm but ripe), cored and sliced
• 9 oz baby spinach

Dressing:

• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 Tb extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 ½ T honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Whisk all dressing ingredients in a bowl to blend well.

2. Place all salad ingredients in a large salad bowl, drizzle with desired amount of dressing then toss to evenly coat.

3. Serve immediately.

 

Holiday Food Makeovers: Desserts

FINALLY!!! The best part of the meal! I hope you’ve saved room for dessert. If you’ve stayed within the guidelines above, chances are, you have! And with these dessert options, you’re not likely to leave your party with a belly ache and an overload of calories that you have to hit the gym for three hours to work off. There are SO many healthy dessert options out there, but I will throw a few good ones at you and give you some hints to be able to make your own versions of traditional favorites as well.

 

Holiday Food Makeovers: Skinny Holiday Fruit Crisp

Recipe by savorynothings.com

Everyone knows that at holiday dinners, pies are one of the most popular choices when dessert is served. Warm, gooey, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of the season, Pumpkin and Apple or other fruit pies are usually at the top of the list. To save on calories and fat, skip the crust without skimping on taste with this dessert.

Ingredients

Filling:

• 4 medium apples, cored and cubed
• 2 firm pears, cored and cubed
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 T sugar
• 2 T cornstarch
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground ginger

Topping:

• ⅔ cups rolled oats
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 T flour
• 3 T butter
• ¼ cup pecans, chopped
• Dash of salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8 x 8 inch square baking dish or spray with cooking spray.

2. To make the filling add the cubed apples and pears to a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice.

3. Stir in the remaining ingredients and mix very well.

4. Add to the prepared baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until the fruits have softened, stirring once halfway through.

5. Meanwhile, prepare the topping by mixing all topping ingredients together with your fingertips until coarse crumbs form.

6. Remove the dish from the oven and stir the fruit well. Top with the oat crumble and bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving warm.

 

Holiday Food Makeovers: Clean Eating Peanut Butter Cups

Recipe by thegraciouspantry.com

A lot of people love chocolate. A lot of people love peanut butter. And a WHOLE lot of people love it when they come together. It’s magical. Buckeyes are one of the holiday treats I look forward to. Whenever we attend a party, I’m always hoping SOMEBODY made them. Here is a cleaner version of those that you won’t feel quite as guilty popping in your mouth now and then.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup virgin coconut oil
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup honey
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 jar clean (no added oils or sugar) peanut butter, smooth works best

Directions

1. In a medium pot, combine all ingredients except the peanut butter.

2. Whisk thoroughly over low heat until the chocolate is smooth.

3. Using either an oiled silicone mini muffin pan (regular size works too) OR foil cupcake papers in a regular muffin pan, fill the wells one-third of the way up with chocolate. Keep the chocolate warmed over low heat if possible or on the warm setting in your slow cooker.

4. Freeze these for 15 minutes.

5. Remove them from freezer and add another ⅓ using peanut butter.

6. Freeze for 15 minutes.

7. Remove them from freezer and add the last ⅓ with more chocolate.

8. Freeze for at least 2 hours.

9. Store in freezer. These get melty pretty quickly, so if you want to serve them but don’t want them frozen, put them in the fridge for about 20 minutes, then serve.

NOTE: These are very good straight out of the freezer.

 

Holiday Food Makeovers: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe by twopeasandtheirpod.com

Okay, I HAVE to have a cookie recipe on here. What’s a holiday without cookies?! You give ‘em out to friends and teachers, you serve ‘em at parties, you make ‘em on a cold wintery afternoon. They’re fabulous!

And Chocolate Chip cookies have to be one of America’s all-time faves. Here’s a recipe that’s a little better for you as it uses whole wheat flour and coconut oil instead of butter.

Also the addition of fiber rich oats is a good-for-you variation on this traditional cookie.

Ingredients

• 1 cup white whole wheat flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup coconut oil, softened (not melted)
• ⅔ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ⅔ cup old fashioned oats
• 1 cup dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Sea salt, for sprinkling on cookies

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together white whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together softened coconut oil, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat until smooth. Add in the egg and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.

4. With the mixer on low, slowly add in the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Don’t overmix. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

5. Form the cookie dough into balls, about 2 tablespoons of dough. Place on prepared baking sheet, 2-inches apart.

6. Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired.

7. Bake for 10 minutes or until cookies are slightly golden around the edges and soft in the center.

8. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and cool completely (if you can help yourself!).

NOTE: Cookies will keep in an airtight container on the counter for 2 days. They also freeze well.

 

Holiday Food Makeovers: Healthy Substitutions

You can make MOST cookies at least a little bit healthier by using some healthy ingredients in place of traditional ones. Here’s a healthy baking substitutes list for you to use in ALL of your holiday food makeovers baking:

WHAT? 1 cup whole wheat flour for 1 cup white flour.

WHY? Wheat flour is not processed unlike white.

 

WHAT? 1 cup unsweetened applesauce for 1 cup sugar.

WHY? Unsweetened applesauce reduces calories but adds sweetness without the use of refined white sugar.

 

WHAT? 2 egg whites for 1 whole egg.

WHY? This sub is iffy for me because I believe in the healthy addition of GOOD fats in your diet and egg yolks are proven to be just that.

 

WHAT? 1 cup evaporated skim milk for 1 cup heavy cream. Add vanilla for extra flavor.

WHY? This swap cuts calories and fat. Doesn’t whip up as thick, but depending on the recipe, it’s a good swap.

 

WHAT? 1 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt for 1 cup sour cream.

WHY? As mentioned above, a smart sub in for dips and other recipes.

 

WHAT? 1 cup dried fruit for 1 cup chocolate chips.

WHY? Improves the health factor of recipes, but so does using DARK chocolate, so personally, I’m good with that! Going half chocolate chips and half dried fruit is also a good option.

 

WHAT? 1 cup pureed avocado or coconut oil for 1 cup butter.

WHY? Both subs are super healthy fats that your body loves. Or if you’re looking to forgo dairy because of an allergy, intolerance, or just trying to keep your dairy consumption in check.

 

WHAT? 1 cup fruit puree (ex: unsweetened applesauce) for 1 cup oil.

WHY? I use unsweetened applesauce in my pancake mix recipe in place of the oil and it’s perfect.

 

Holiday Food Makeovers: Parting thoughts…

Play around with different substitutes and see how they work for you. Some may require an adjustment to other ingredients in the recipe or an adjustment of cook time/temperature. Most of the time, you won’t even be able to tell much difference in how they turn out.

There’s endless options when it comes to holiday food makeovers and SO many ways to make your dishes healthy.

My challenge to you this year is to TRY and makeover at least ONE of your traditional recipes and see how it turns out.

Or try something completely new and healthy. You never know…it might become one of your NEW favorite traditions!

From the first course, to dessert and everything in between, eating healthy can still be delicious. And when the holidays are over and the scale has barely budged, you are ahead of the game and can make a New Year’s resolution that doesn’t include spending countless hours in the gym.

Happy celebrating! Blessings to you and yours!

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