Keep your stress levels down and your energy up with our fan favorite holiday fare.
Need a healthy holiday potluck recipe? Or are you pondering what to serve at upcoming family feasts as alternatives to traditional high-calorie fare?
The hectic seasonal calendar can make it especially challenging to stick with healthful habits and nutritional goals, especially when we’re cooking for others.
"Planning ahead helps us feel more in control,” says Katie Rankell, a registered dietitian and program director of the UCI Health Weight Management Program. “It may also help reduce the holiday stress many of us feel at this time of year, which can trigger overeating."
Ease your mind and your schedule by trying out some of our most popular appetizers, side dishes and desserts. They are sure to please the hungry crowd at your next party or family event!
Mexican corn deviled eggs
Get ready for rave reviews when you show up with this slightly spicy twist on the classic deviled egg. Full of fiber and protein, these colorful bites will keep spirits bright! View video ›
Pear and quinoa salad
Longing for lighter fare to balance out all the rich holiday foods? Reach for this fiber-filled salad, topped with a hint of sweetness!
Mushroom lentil paté
This dish is the perfect starter to whet the appetite while delivering multiple health benefits, such as plentiful plant fiber, protein and a host of vitamins and minerals to keep your holiday energy flowing.
Salmon spread
This delicious appetizer lightens up traditional high-calorie salmon spread. Replacing chips or crackers with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes helps satisfy those crunchy cravings.
Vegetarian dumplings and sesame dipping sauce
Dumplings (aka potstickers) are indispensable for Lunar New Year celebrations in China. Eaten to ensure wealth and prosperity in the year ahead, our vegetarian version also promises good health!
Roasted green beans with almond slivers
Who doesn’t love a classic green bean casserole during the holidays? Ditch the high-calorie, high-fat version in favor of this light, tasty alternative.
Roasted garlic ratatouille
This vibrant vegetarian dish will be an eye-catcher at any gathering as well as a nutrition powerhouse. Sight unseen, its garlicky aroma is a temptation hard to resist!
Sweet potato and kale stir-fry
This colorful dish combines two superfoods. Kale and sweet potatoes are both full of antioxidants, fiber vitamins and minerals. It’s not only a feast for your eyes but also a boost to your health!
Artichoke and spinach polenta with Gruyère
This delectable casserole has the comfort food creaminess we all crave during the holidays. Packed with vital nutrients and fiber and topped with the classic Alpine cheese, it’s simply irresistible!
Dark chocolate quinoa bark
It can feel like mission impossible to find a healthy sweet treat during the holidays. Enter this scrumptious dark chocolate quinoa bark — sure to be a hit at your next gathering!
