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Healthy Helper

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Healthy Alternatives to Holiday Classics

A roundup of classic holiday sides and accompaniments gone HEALTHY! Wholesome, nutritious takes on the traditional, comfort-food holiday dishes that you know and love. With a few simple ingredient swaps you can enjoy all the foods you love without dealing with their heaviness!

Canadian Thanksgiving was last weekend. That holiday always is the marker for me that our own American Thanksgiving is right around the corner! That means MENU PLANNING TIME. At least for me it is!

I always love contributing a few dishes to my family’s table. It’s fun cooking with everyone and taking part in all the food fun, ya know? Plus, it’s a great feeling knowing your family is enjoying a meal together that YOU played a role in.

My signature cooking style is to take a traditional, heavy/rich recipe and making it healthier! Especially around the holidays!

Of course there’s nothing wrong with the classic recipes your family knows and loves, but if you can make a dish that’s good for you AND tastes like good, why not do it?!

I’ve made quite a few seasonal favorites over the years that are great accompanying your holiday meal! Recently, I took some time looking through the archives to find the best of the best Healthy Helper creations that provide healthy alternatives to your go-to holiday foods.

So whenever you start planning your holiday menu, be sure to include some of these delicious dishes!

The ULTIMATE Healthy Holiday Recipe Roundup | Healthy Helper @Healthy_Helper A roundup of classic holiday sides and accompaniments gone HEALTHY! Wholesome, nutritious takes on the traditional, comfort-food holiday dishes that you know and love. With a few simple ingredient swaps you can enjoy all the foods you love without dealing with their heaviness!

Instead of cheese and crackers for an appetizer try…

Cranberry Bacon Date Cracker Stacks 

Cranberry Bacon Date Cracker Stacks | Healthy Helper @Healthy_Helper

Crunchy, chewy, sweet, and savory all at once! These cracker bites will be your new FAVORITE pre-feast snack.

Instead of fattening spinach-artichoke dip try…

Low-Fat Vegan Caesar Dip

Low-Fat Vegan Caesar Dip Cranberry Bacon Date Cracker Stacks | Healthy Helper @Healthy_Helper

Flavorful, high in protein, and so rich tasting! No dairy or added fats in site in this delicious dip recipe.

Instead of a traditional creamy soup to start the meal try…

HCLF Vegan Cheddar Broccoli Soup

HCLF Vegan Cheddar Broccoli Soup Cranberry Bacon Date Cracker Stacks | Healthy Helper @Healthy_Helper

Creamy, vegan soup that you’ll never guess was dairy-free! Cheesy, veggie-filled, and so comforting for the holidays! 

Instead of buttermilk biscuits try…

Gluten-Free Ranch Potato Biscuits

Gluten-Free Potato Ranch Biscuits Cranberry Bacon Date Cracker Stacks | Healthy Helper @Healthy_Helper

Doughy, delightful biscuits that are soft and crumbly upon first bite! Top with your favorite spread or enjoy the zesty ranch flavor all on its own.  

Instead of mashed potatoes try…

Smokey White Bean Puree

Smoky White Bean Puree Cranberry Bacon Date Cracker Stacks | Healthy Helper @Healthy_Helper

Same creamy taste and texture you love without any added butter or cream! Delicious smoky flavor and tons of plant-based protein, too. 

Instead of sweet potato casserole try…

Fresh n’ Fruity Sweet Potato Hash

Fresh n' Fruity Sweet Potato Hash Cranberry Bacon Date Cracker Stacks | Healthy Helper @Healthy_Helper

Sweet, salty, and full of fresh flavors! No need to load on the sugar, marshmallows, and syrup to bring out the natural deliciousness of sweet potatoes. Full of vitamin C and fiber too! 

Now you’re all set for rounding out your holiday feast! Sides, soups, and app ideas galore. But that’s not all I have for you today! I’ve also gone to some of my favorite blogger friends and asked them for their go-to healthy holiday swaps. Here are some that made the list….

Portobella Mushroom Salad from Nikki of A View From Here

Portobella Mushroom Salad

Gluten free, Vegetarian and Sugar Free. A healthy Holiday option that doesn’t lack in flavor. Roasted vegetables, gooey fresh Mozzarella, sweet ripe tomatoes, topped with a perfectly cooked Portabella Mushroom with the flavor of grilled steak. Could it get any better?

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup from Deborah of Confessions of a Mother Runner

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

A yummy soup brimming with all the delicious flavors and scents of fall. This vegan, gluten free starter is sure to please all of your holiday guests.

Pesto Cheese Blossom from Stefani of The Crafty Christian

Pesto Cheese Blossom

A delectable grain free appetizer combining garlic, pesto, and sun dried tomatoes with cream cheese and provolone. A must have for all of your holiday get togethers, with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor.

Vegan Dressing from Celeste of The Whole Serving

Vegan Dressing

Pretty amazing stuff and so yummy looking! This epic recipe roundup proves that the holidays can be healthy AND tasty. No need to sacrifice your love of traditional foods. With a easy swaps like the recipes above, your family won’t miss the classics and you may even develop some new holiday traditions with your ‘made over’ menu!

Healthy Alternatives to Thanksgiving Classics #healthy #holidays

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Do you plan your holiday menu a few weeks ahead of time?

What’s your favorite holiday side or appetizer?

Do you go for a ‘healthy holiday’ or a more ‘traditional’ feast?

 
 
 
 
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56 responses to “Healthy Alternatives to Holiday Classics”

  3. Kaila, what a great list of healthy holiday recipes! I’m making a shopping list as we speak. The GF Potato Ranch biscuits look so delicious! They are a must for the Holiday table, and the Sweet Potato Hash? I could eat that daily! All the recipes look great, I am pinning this to come back to again and again! Thanks!

    Reply

  9. What a great roundup of dishes!! I’ve hosted Thanksgiving for several years in a row and have the menu and grocery list ready to go. I have to admit, I go all out for the day though! I buy more butter than I do all year. Haha!
    LOVE the healthy twists on all these though! Really beautiful options.

    Reply

  10. Our family is all about the feast over the holidays. It is kinda ridiculous how much food my Mum makes. We have almost every kind of meat you can imagine.
    I’m so excited for Christmas!

    Reply

  11. These look yummy! I don’t want to wait around for Thanksgiving to try them. Lol. Especially that white bean puree and Portabella mushroom salad! Thanks for sharing your healthy round-up with us at Merry Monday this week!

    Reply

  16. Great ideas! I’ll definitely be coming back to use some of these recipes for Thanksgiving – it’s always great to be healthier when you can, even if it’s just a little bit healthier. Thanks for sharing – I discovered your post on the 100 Happy Days Link Party 🙂

    Reply

  17. Glad I stumbled on this list. Been looking for healthy recipes for the holidays. With all the eating, I can substitue some recipes with these without worrying calories ha ha.

    Reply

  20. Thanks for compiling all of these (and ahead of time; I LOVE to plan ahead :)). Can’t wait for a healthy Thanksgiving with my family!

    Reply

  27. All these recipes look amazing! I really want to try those cranberry bacon date cracker stacks since I love sweet and salty combinations. Usually I try to make healthy alternatives to some side dishes, but then I usually still end up making a few traditional ones and desserts to please everyone. But no matter what my favorite part about thanksgiving is probably the turkey since we really only cook one once a year.

    Reply

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