Why wait for the New Year to prioritize your health? The holidays are a nightmare for staying in shape amidst the savory snacks and decadent desserts.
These guilt-free holiday recipes will help you slim down without skipping out:
Vegetarian Southern-Style Collard Greens
Traditional Southern-style collard greens are salty and fatty, typically made with ham hocks. This vegetarian version lightens things up without sacrificing taste. It incorporates butter, olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes for an unbelievably mouthwatering and comforting flavor profile.
Vegetarian Southern-Style Collard Greens Recipe
Coconut Oil Fudge
You don’t have to give up sweets altogether if you’re trying to have a healthier holiday season. Fudge is a classic treat, but old-fashioned recipes are high in sugar and calories.
Swap butter and milk for coconut oil for an equally indulgent vegan and gluten-free fudge. The creamy texture is spot-on, and you can enjoy this dessert with less guilt since it’s naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup.
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Make this stuffed pork tenderloin the star of your Christmas feast. Start with a portion of pork tenderloin, a lean and flavorful protein option.
Stuff it with a filling of spinach and sundried tomatoes before topping it with a light white wine sauce. This Italian-inspired entree is irresistibly savory and juicy, making it a guaranteed hit.
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Recipe
Breakfast Casserole
Start your holiday celebrations on the right foot with a satisfying and nutritious breakfast casserole. Instead of overstuffing yourself at a brunch buffet, stay in and whip up this deliciously simple meal.
It combines eggs, hash browns, sausage, and fresh vegetables into one tasty, high-protein casserole. Get creative and use as many vegetables as you like, such as bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, and more.
Egg Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Forget everything you thought you knew about Brussels sprouts. These roasted sprouts will impress even hard-to-please eaters.
Adding goat cheese and pomegranate seeds is key for extra flavor and texture elements. With this cozy side dish, you’ll enjoy eating your vegetables for once.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese and Pomegranate Recipe
Paleo Vegan Peppermint Bark
This paleo vegan peppermint bark is so good that no one will know it’s dairy-free. It’s the perfect sweet treat when you don’t feel like firing up the oven. With layers of peppermint-flavored chocolate and a topping of crushed lower-sugar candy canes, the bark captures everything you love about the holidays.
Paleo Vegan Peppermint Bark Recipe
Spaghetti Squash Bolognese
Cozy up with a hearty serving of spaghetti squash bolognese for Christmas. Spaghetti squash is an excellent base for this dish because it contains fewer calories and carbs than traditional pasta. The protein-packed bolognese sauce is incredibly satisfying, and you can make this meal without added sugar by choosing a healthy marinara.
Spaghetti Squash Bolognese Recipe
Skinny Scalloped Potatoes
These skinny scalloped potatoes are a better-for-you alternative to the holiday classic. The side dish is healthier than old-fashioned recipes because it uses reduced-fat milk, butter, and cheese. Even if you’re watching what you eat, you can enjoy these rich and creamy potatoes guilt-free.
Skinny Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Turkey Meatloaf
While turkey meatloaf doesn’t sound very exciting, you’ll be surprised by how delicious this holiday meal is. Lean ground turkey is an excellent way to lower the fat content without changing the meatloaf’s taste.
Add-ins like ketchup and Worcestershire sauce keep the meat moist while giving it a tremendous depth of flavor. This familiar favorite will have everyone returning for seconds.
The Best Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
Italian Artichoke Green Bean Casserole
Who says you can only enjoy green bean casserole on Thanksgiving? An artichoke green bean casserole is a surefire hit for any holiday.
This recipe has an Italian spin with artichoke hearts and uses a light breadcrumb parmesan topping instead of fried onions. The casserole is packed with nutritious vegetables, savory spices, and a hint of cheese that’ll make you swoon.
Italian Artichoke Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash
Enjoy the season’s best flavors with this vegetarian stuffed acorn squash recipe. The squash is a stunning addition to any holiday dinner table, and you can serve it as a side or main dish. Its hearty filling of quinoa, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds will satisfy you for hours.
Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe
Fall Harvest Salad
Elevate your vegetable game this season with a gorgeous fall harvest salad. It’s nutritious, light, and satiating, packed with fresh produce like kale and apples.
Chopped nuts, dried cranberries, and sweet potatoes give this salad an irresistibly autumnal twist. The tangy balsamic vinaigrette dressing ties everything together, making each bite taste like the holidays.
Pomsettia Cocktail
Embrace the festive spirit with a refreshing Pomsettia cocktail. Vibrant Christmas poinsettia plants are the inspiration for this unique drink recipe.
It pays homage to the popular flowers with pomegranate juice, which gives the drink a gorgeous red color. Combine the juice with vodka, club soda, and mint leaves for a holiday cocktail that’s equally naughty and nice.
Lighten things up without saying goodbye to flavor
Are you tired of spending your holidays overstuffed with decadent foods? Prepare a healthier holiday meal that won’t leave you uncomfortably full.
15 Healthy Holiday Recipes That Won’t Induce a Food Coma
Consider an all-vegan feast this holiday season
You don’t need animal products to cook a delicious, crowd-pleasing feast. These plant-based holiday recipes will impress all your guests, vegan or not.
14 Vegan Recipes to Please the Pickiest Eaters
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
