Holiday Recipe Guide

The holidays don’t have to be an all-or-nothing season when it comes to food. You can enjoy the classics and feel good in your body. This guide pulls together some of my favorite festive recipes, simple swaps, and crowd-pleasing dishes you can bring to gatherings or enjoy at home. 

Before we jump into recipes, here are a few simple principles that help you feel steady through the season:

Build your meals around these four: protein, fat, fiber, & color.

This keeps cravings, blood sugar, and energy stable.

Bring a dish you love to parties.

Don’t leave food to chance. If you bring something nourishing you enjoy, you know there will be an option that supports you.

Choose flavor + nourishment over perfection.

Holiday food can be both joyful and supportive. No need for extremes.

Add instead of restrict.

Add an extra veggie dish, add protein, add fruit, add fresh herbs. This creates balance naturally.

Healthy Holiday Recipes

Seasonal Sides That Feel Festive

• Roasted root veggie dishes (carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets) like these Honey Dijon Root Veggies or Mashed root veggies

• Warm winter salads with greens and roasted squash like this Butternut Squash Salad or this Pomegranate kale winter salad

• Homemade cranberry sauce sweetened with honey or maple

• Mashed sweet potatoes with ghee and cinnamon

Fiber Rich Salads & Veggie Dishes

• Shaved Brussels sprouts with pecans and pomegranate seeds

• Beet and orange salad

• Citrus Fennel Salad

• Garlicky Green Beans

• ​​Maple Roasted Veggies

• Roasted Squash and Apple Salad

• Crispy artichoke hearts

• Green Bean Casserole

Desserts

• Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

• Almond Flour Thumbprint cookies

• Grain free apple crumble

Festive Drinks 

• Citrus-spiced mocktails

• Sparkling water with pomegranate seeds and lime

• Herbal teas (peppermint, ginger, chai)

• Immune Boosting Hot Chocolate

Quick Swaps for Holiday Cooking:

• Use honey or maple instead of refined sugar

• Choose olive oil, coconut oil, or ghee instead of vegetable oils

• Add herbs and spices for antioxidants (rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, cloves)

• Mix cauliflower rice with regular rice to lighten heavier dishes

• Add roasted veggies or a colorful salad as a side dish for fiber and nutrients

• Add chia or flax to baked goods for fiber

Want More Holiday Support?

Check out:

• Eat to Achieve™ for simple, nourishing foundations and more recipes

• Episode 335: How I Prioritize My Health Through the Holidays

• Thriving through the Holiday season