Tuesday, December 13, 2022

A Healthy Christmas Feast

 This is the season for tasty treats and bad choices. We tend to eat too many fatty , salty , cured and sweet foods. Yet those party nibbles to Christmas cookies can be made healthy. It's have fun while eating better.

Hosts are all over the charcuterie board. Who doesn't love salami and cheese yet there  are better alternatives.What about a veggie board? This can be fun and colorful.Cut veggies in long pieces which are perfect for dipping. Yes, you have to have celery.It's crunchy and great with any low calorie dip. Also have three kinds of bell peppers, yellow, red and green for a rainbow effect . Broccoli and cauliflower florets are musts too. There can be tomatoes, Cut the bigger ones up into wedges. Add some olives and artichoke hearts too. what about the dips.Hummus can be fun but also think a low calorie Greek yogurt  spiced up with some garlic and onion powders. You can also make a simple vinaigrette with red wine vinegar and a good olive oil. Add some thyme and oregano for more flavor. What to do about latkes for Hanukkah? They can still have that crispy fried crunch and rich flavor. Just air fry them instead of deep frying and use just egg whites instead of the whole egg. You could also use Just Egg as well which is a very good egg sub in.

Christmas dinner is another lush eating experiences. There's usually a glazed ham or a butter rubbed turkey on the table.Instead of a sugary coating on the ham, think a simple one made with  a low sodium veggie broth. Bast e it with this every twenty to thirty minutes. As for that butter rubbed turkey, think a plant based butter like Melt which will still give it a nice browned skin. Another idea is serving  fish like salmon.Try a soy and garlic glazed one for a healthy and different spin on your holiday dinner. For sides, think a healthy hot broccoli salad along with sliced carrots. Desserts can be healthy and good for you too. Since it's orange season think about air frying them for a different kind of dessert.It's slicing the oranges in half and first spraying them with some kind of cooking spray. The butter flavoreed one would work well here. Then brush the tops with honey and cinnamon. Air fry them for eight minutes at 360 degrees Farenheit. If you want cookies a healthy gingerbread fills the bill. Use more spices than sugar for a lovely Christmas flavor along with whole wheat flour and a plant butter like Melt. Sprinkle with brown sugar if you want them to have some crunch.

Healthy holiday eating can be just as flavorful as the fat and sugar laced recipes. They offer a better alternative. Try them for a good for you Christmas and Hanukkah dinners and desserts..