As someone who struggles with their relationship with food, the holidays are very difficult.
I am also part of a big, American family whose recipes often focus on deep-fried foods and cheese. This can have more of an effect during the holidays because the exponential intake can cause stress and unhappiness, which is not what the holidays are about.
Thankfully, even a holiday like Christmas has the potential for some healthy options. Here are some healthy alternative recipes that can help you out this holiday season.
Turkey Spring Rolls
Turkey spring rolls can be the perfect way to introduce some culture to traditional meals. You can choose to incorporate a variety of vegetables in the spring rolls, which would help add a healthy twist.
Additionally, making turkey spring rolls are a collaborative effort, which would help bring some much needed connectivity during these times. Here is the link for the recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/turkey-spring-rolls-2250073
Next-Day Turkey Soup
Next-day turkey soup is a great, healthy recipe. It incorporates a variety of hearty vegetables, seasonings, and the leftovers from the night before. This soup tastes great and will warm you up as cold weather approaches.
This recipe is also environmentally friendly as it will help limit food waste. Here is the recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/next-day-turkey-soup-recipe-1943595
Twice Baked Sweet Potato
I love a normal twice baked potato, so twice baked sweet potatoes would be a great way to keep up with the holiday theme. Sweet potatoes are a great source of fibers, vitamins and minerals, so they will help energize you this season. Plus, twice baked sweet potatoes are a great alternative to a more traditional sweet potato casserole.
Here is the recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/twice-baked-sweet-potatoes-recipe-1909560
Pumpkin- Parmesan Biscuits
These biscuits are an awesome alternative to the traditional Pillsbury rolls. By combining pumpkin and parmesan, a great flavor pallet is presented.
This recipe is not super time consuming for those who are feeling frazzled this holiday season. Here is the recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/pumpkin-parmesan-biscuits-recipe-2043384
Gluten-free Whole Grain Stuffing Square
These stuffing squares provide a good dose of whole grains, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It forms the square shape with a decent amount of vegetables, so it will help you feel more robust. These will help keep proper portioning in mind during the holidays!
Here is the recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gluten-free-whole-grain-stuffing-squares-3415963
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
I love desserts, but after feeling stuffed from the main course, desserts do not always feel practical. However, this recipe is a great substitute to more traditional desserts. Adding pumpkin puree will help add flavor as well.
However, I would personally make normal chocolate chip cookies to go with it. You deserve a treat during the holidays, so you should make all the desserts you desire.
Here is the link to the recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe-1946557 .