As Christmas approaches, it’s time to face the challenge of creating a healthy holiday menu. After all, the festive season is all about indulgence, isn’t it? Well, the good news is that you can put on a delicious Christmas lunch or dinner without compromising your health goals.
By making mindful menu choices, you can still savour plenty of yummy treats without compromising on taste or health. There’s no need to end up uncomfortably stuffed or guzzling sugar to have a great Christmas with the ones you love.
Why not bring a healthier mindset to the holidays this year? That means ditching the guilt and shame around seasonal food, too. Instead, commit to making nutritious menu choices out of love for your body and the people you share the holidays with.
To help you on your mission, I’ve put together a list of 24 irresistibly healthy Christmas recipes. By filling your plate with wholesome food, you can make this Christmas joyful and wonderfully balanced.
Grab a pen, and let’s start planning a lighter holiday menu!
How to Plan a Healthy Christmas Menu
Before we dive into the recipes, let’s discuss how to create a healthy Christmas menu.
If you’re hosting a gathering this year, providing nutritious options for your guests is also very thoughtful. Even if you can’t avoid demands for the high-calorie classics, including lighter choices in your holiday spread means there’s something that everyone can eat comfortably.
Here are some tips for a healthier Christmas menu:
- Aim for balance and variety: Ensure your menu encompasses all food categories: proteins, carbs, healthy fats, fruits, and veggies. Include a mix of colours and textures in your dishes for a range of nutrients.
- Include powerful foods: Healthy eating isn’t about deprivation – the food that ends up on your plate matters as much as the food you avoid. Supercharge your holiday menu by including nutrition powerhouses like anti-inflammatory foods and opting for quality meat, dairy and produce.
- Consider healthy swaps: Use honey or natural sweetener where sugar is called for; instead of store-bought powdered gravy, make your own from the turkey or chicken pan juices. Every little tweak makes for a more wholesome holiday dinner.
- Make veggies the star: Fill your festive plates with a rainbow of vegetables! They’re low on calories but high on nutrients and fibre, which makes you feel full (and less likely to overindulge in dessert).
- Choose lean proteins: When planning Christmas lunch and dinner, opt for healthy lean meats like turkey, chicken, and fish. They’re lower in calories and fats for a lighter meal. Avoid portions with fat and skin to minimise your saturated fat intake further.
- Think local and seasonal: Support your local farmers this Christmas by incorporating seasonal, locally sourced meat and produce. Not only will it add variety and freshness to your dishes, but seasonal fruit and veg are typically cheaper, too.
Now, with our plan in place, let’s start cooking!
Healthy Christmas Lunch & Dinner Ideas
Now that we’ve got our menu planning tips under our belt, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and dive into the yummy part – the best healthy Christmas recipes! These lighter Christmas lunch and dinner ideas are perfect for summer entertaining.
Here are my favourite nutritious holiday mains and salads:
1. Lamb Cutlets with Pomegranate Cous Cous
Dairy Free, Gluten Free Option
With Aussie lamb the star, this winner of a dish both looks and tastes amazing! Succulent lamb cutlets pair perfectly with couscous tossed with snow peas, pomegranate seeds, pistachios and fresh herbs. Plus, it’s a great main dish that goes light on the grains – for a gluten-free alternative to cous cous, use quinoa instead. Pomegranates are in season from November to March in Australia, adding a seasonal pop of colour and an antioxidant punch.
2. Baby Beetroot & Bean Salad with Feta
Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Festive colours abound in this lively salad, brimming with beets, beans and luscious feta cheese. On top of antioxidant-rich baby beetroot, this dish incorporates broad beans and cannellini beans for variety and protein. Add a simple red wine vinegar dressing, and this healthy salad will make a delightful addition to your Christmas Day spread. It’s perfect to pair all kinds of proteins, including your favourite summer seafood.
3. Warm Kale & Shaved Sprout Salad with Hazelnuts
Vegetarian, Vegan
Looking for the perfect accompaniment to a roast chook or turkey? This wholesome salad is packed with classic holiday flavours and textures. There’s plenty of cruciferous greens to chow down on, with kale and thinly sliced Brussels sprouts, plus the crunch of crispy hazelnuts, salty bacon and zesty orange pieces. Trust me, the combination is irresistible!
4. Smoked Trout Patties with Edamame
Dairy Free, Gluten Free Option
Tasty trout patties are a lighter Christmas lunch option perfect for an Aussie summer. Protein-rich smoked trout and panko crumbs give this dish a luxe twist, accompanied by edamame beans, spring onions and quinoa for a boost of fibre. Smoked trout patties go perfectly with a fresh salad but are also great served on a platter as mini sliders or lettuce wraps. For a gluten-free version, swap Panko for gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Easy & Healthy Christmas Desserts
Onto the sweetest part of any Christmas feast – the desserts. Who said you can’t have your cake and eat it too? These tantalisingly healthy Christmas dessert options will satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping sugar and calories in check.
Add these nutritionist-approved desserts to your festive menu this year:
1. Gluten Free & Refined Sugar Free Christmas Cake
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free
Christmas cake is a holiday classic, but it’s usually packed with sugar on top of all the dried fruit. This healthier Christmas cake recipe is free from refined sugars but is still full of fruit and festive flavour. Hazelnut meal and LSA add plenty of gluten-free goodness, including fibre and omega-3s. To top it off, the cake is sweetened with rice malt syrup, avoiding refined sugars.
2. Roasted Stone Fruit With Brown Sugar
Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Dairy Free Option, Vegan Option
You can’t have an Aussie Christmas without summer stone fruit! This dessert is so delicious that no one will notice it’s good for you.
The method is simple:
- Halve your peaches and plums, remove the stone and place them on a baking tray.
- Place ½ teaspoon of good-quality butter in each stone hole.
- Sprinkle ½ tablespoon of brown sugar over each piece of fruit.
- Bake until butter and sugar are melted and the peach is soft and warm-to-hot.
- Serve with low-fat ice cream or Greek yoghurt.
3. Raspberry & Mocha Lamington Trifle
Gluten Free, Dairy Free Option
This raspberry and mocha lamington trifle is a unique twist on the classic Aussie dessert. The lamington sponge base is made made with whole coconut flour, and with a pop of fresh raspberry flavour, it’s a healthier option for satisfying your sweet cravings.
For this recipe, follow the method for my Raspberry & Mocha Lamingtons, but keep the raspberries aside and stop before you cut and dip your sponge cake squares!
Instead of making ganache, melt your dark chocolate in some low-fat custard. Layer your sponge cake pieces in a trifle dish with the custard, Noway Collagen Jelly (available from Woolworths), fresh raspberries, and shredded coconut. Sprinkle the top with coconut to finish!
4. Spiced Pumpkin Puddings
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Refined Sugar Free
If you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious Christmas dessert, these spiced pumpkin muffins make fantastic individual ‘puddings’. Far from your typical dessert, the mashed pumpkin adds a dose of fibre, as well as antioxidants like beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E. Coconut flour is a healthier gluten-free alternative to white flour, while coconut oil adds healthy fats and rice malt syrup sweetens without refined sugars. To serve, warm up the puddings and plate them with a scoop of low-fat vanilla ice cream.
5. Mango With Rice Pudding
Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Dairy Free Option, Vegan Option
For a simple five-minute dessert, make the most of Australia’s delicious summer mangoes! Simply slice the mango cheeks into cubes and serve with your choice of vanilla rice pudding (plus a sprinkling of lime zest, toasted coconut or chopped pistachios).
Store-bought: Le Rice is 97% fat-free, while Wicked Sister brand is a bit more indulgent. Fancy Plants also does a vegan rice pudding available at Coles. My favourite from Harris Farm is Ruby & Roy’s Rice Pudding.
Homemade: Try this healthier rice pudding recipe, which uses skim milk and adds Greek yoghurt for creaminess at the end.
For chocolate rice pudding, top with cherries and hazelnuts, plus a few curls of dark chocolate. Delicious!
Healthy Christmas Appetisers & Snacks
No festive gathering is complete without nibbles to satisfy guests until the main course. Instead of sticking with chips and cookies, preparing nutritious snacks gives everyone more nutritious options to munch on.
Healthy doesn’t mean tasteless or boring, either! Try these healthier options for Christmas entertaining this year:
1. Beetroot Hummus with Crudites
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan
Healthy appetisers don’t get more colourful than this! A vibrant beetroot hummus will be the centrepiece of any Christmas snacking spread. This is one plate of nibbles you’re welcome to fill up on since hummus is packed with protein, fibre, and vitamins from chickpeas and beets. Pair it with an assortment of crisp vegetables and wholegrain crackers for a more-ish appetiser combo.
2. Cacao Almond Rum Balls
Gluten Free, Dairy Free Option, Vegan Option
Consider these almond cacao balls for a delightful, no-bake alternative to Christmas cookies. They’re fun and easy to make – you can even rope the kids into rolling them up! With a combination of dates, almonds, and raw cacao powder, they’re also a natural energy booster full of antioxidants. For a fun adults-only spin, toss in a splash of rum! Now, that tastes like Christmas to me.
3. Cranberry Pistachio Carrot Balls
Gluten Free, Dairy Free Option, Vegan Option
The combination of cranberry and pistachio makes these snackable morsels a nutritious and delicious holiday treat. Add cardamom and rosewater, and you have a seriously luxe snack! Carrots are packed with antioxidants, while pistachios add crunch (along with vitamin B6 and potassium). Cranberries are the highest natural source of phenols, a potent antioxidant – and if your food processor has a grater attachment, it’s even quicker to whip these up!
4. No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan
A healthier spin on the traditional dessert, you’ll be surprised how much these carrot cake balls taste like the real thing! A combination of carrot, dates and nuts creates sweetness without being overpowering, so these bite-sized morsels are a great accompaniment to tea or coffee with festive-season guests. Ginger and nutmeg are the secret to that ‘carrot cake’ flavour, satisfying your sweet tooth without the sugar or calories.
Healthy Christmas Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
Kickstart Christmas Day with a bang with these scrumptious breakfast and brunch recipes. These recipes are jam-packed with wholesome ingredients, giving the whole family a nutritious energy boost.
Here are four mouth-watering, nutritious Christmas breakfasts that are sure to impress your family and friends:
1. Gingerbread Buckwheat Pancakes with Fruit
Gluten Free, Dairy Free Option, Vegetarian
These fluffy banana pancakes use buckwheat flour for a healthy (and gluten-free) alternative to traditional pancakes. To whip up this Christmas breakfast, just follow my buckwheat pancake recipe and add a teaspoon of gingerbread spice mix.
My original recipe tops them with blueberries and natural yoghurt, but the sky is the limit! Strawberries, raspberries, cherries or plums would all be fantastic choices.
2. Mushroom Greens & Ricotta on Sourdough Toast
Gluten Free Option, Vegetarian
Impress your guests with a café-style breakfast that’s deceptively simple to prepare! Not only is this savoury breakfast delicious and easy on the eyes, but it’s packed with nutrients to start your Christmas morning right. Top whole-grain sourdough bread (or a gluten-free alternative) with easy sautéed mushrooms, kale, protein-rich ricotta, fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. Magical!
3. Naked Greens & Feta Pie
Gluten Free, Vegetarian
This crustless egg pie is a healthy and versatile option for your festive season menu. It’s great for a Christmas brunch or lunch spread and any occasion where you need to ‘bring a plate’. Alternatively, just whip up a batch and keep it in the fridge over the busy holiday season for a hassle-free, healthy brekky. After all, it’s packed with goodness from eggs, greens, feta cheese, and fresh herbs. Feel free to toss in leftover holiday meat or veg, too!
4. Choc Orange Chia Pudding Parfait
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan
Don’t go past this jaffa-flavoured chia pudding for a decadent yet healthy Christmas breakfast option. Chia seeds are rich in fibre, protein and omega 3s, but the best part is that it all tastes like dessert! For a holiday brekky to satisfy sweet tooths, layer your cacao chia pudding in a glass with some Greek yoghurt. You can even add a few curls of dark chocolate on top!
Healthy Christmas Drinks (Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic)
It’s easy to get carried away with sugar-filled cocktails this time of year. Luckily, I’ve got you covered with healthier alternatives that are just as delicious. From invigorating berry smoothies to low-calorie sangria, these colourful recipes are refreshing and still deliver a great festive buzz (minus the excess calories).
For more lighter alcohol picks, see my article: Low-Calorie Alcohol: What Can I Drink This Christmas?
Healthy Christmas Cocktails
Whether it’s a BBQ, picnic, or a lazy Christmas brunch, these three healthy sips are a summer menu must-have:
Grapefruit Spritz: This bubbly delight combines a zesty punch of fresh grapefruit juice with the subtle sweetness of blackcurrant liqueur, topped off with a generous splash of brut Champagne or dry sparkling wine.
100-calorie Sangria: Sangria is a ‘party in a glass’, and once you try this low-calorie alternative, you’ll never go back! It combines velvety red wine with the sweetness of fresh pineapple juice and the zest of fresh orange, topped up with a gingery fizz.
Watermelon Gin Fizz: A glass of Watermelon Gin Fizz screams summer in every sip. With the refreshing sweetness of ripe watermelon, the tangy kick of lime, and the effervescence of ginger ale, this cocktail is the perfect refresher.
Festive Sparkling Water
Looking for a refreshing and healthy holiday drink? Adding natural flavourings to sparkling water is a lighter alternative to soft drinks.
If you’re making large quantities, I recommend a SodaStream – not only does it avoid using disposable plastic bottles, but carbonated tap water has a much lower salt content than bottled mineral or sparkling water.
Here are some flavoured sparkling water ideas to get you started:
Lime & pomegranate sparkling water
- Pomegranate
- Lime wedges
- Mint leaves
Mulled spice sparkling water
- Orange slices
- Cranberries
- Cinnamon stick
- Ginger slices
- Star anise
Tropical pineapple sparkling water
- Pineapple pieces
- Lime wedges
- Ginger slices
Mango lime sparkling water
- Frozen mango
- Lime wedges
- Mint leaves
6 Tips for Healthy Eating at Christmas
As delightful as Christmas is, it can sometimes feel like a minefield trying to make nutritious choices! Here are my top five tips for navigating the festive season without having to compromise your health goals:
1. Boost your metabolism with exercise
Getting your sweat on before diving into a festive feast is a great way to boost your metabolism. Keeping up your fitness routine through the holiday season helps burn more calories and decrease stress. Pump up your metabolic rate, and when that scrumptious meal lands on your plate, your body will be ready to handle it like a champ!
2. Don’t skip breakfast or lunch
On Christmas Day, many of us rise and shine early to prepare for the epic feast that lies ahead. It’s tempting to skip meals beforehand, thinking it will make us hungrier for the main event. But instead, do your body a favour and stay on schedule with small, nourishing meals. Fuelling up with protein and good fats means you won’t be starving by dinnertime, and you’re less likely to overeat.
3. Think quality, not quantity
Try to keep the portion size of your meals in check. It’s okay to indulge but remember, you don’t have to devour twice as much food as usual to enjoy the day. Plus, we all want leftovers, right? When it comes to turkey, ham, and other proteins, stick to a palm-sized serving. Fill the rest of your plate with veggies or salad, and when it comes to sides like mashed potatoes or stuffing, add a little bit to enjoy mindfully.
4. Keep an eye on the canapes
It’s especially easy to get carried away when we’re chatting and munching at the same time, but those little bites before the main meal can add up quickly! Just because they are small bites doesn’t mean you should go overboard. If you can’t keep the snacking impulse in check, go for the healthiest appetisers, like raw veggies with hummus.
5. Avoid grazing straight from the fridge
When preparing food or cleaning up, it’s all too easy to graze on leftovers and ingredients straight from the fridge. But this mindless nibbling can add up quickly! There will be so much yummy ham and crumbling bits of pudding in the fridge, so feel free to tuck in – but put them on a plate and sit down to eat slowly. Trust me, you’ll enjoy the taste more when you’re not guiltily reaching into the refrigerator!
6. Stay hydrated (especially if you’re drinking)
With all the rich food and alcohol, staying hydrated is crucial. Aim for at least eight glasses of water a day (more if you’re drinking or spending time in the heat), and try to alternate between alcoholic drinks and water to avoid overindulging. This will also help prevent a Boxing Day hangover!
Next Steps
Remember, Christmas is a time to celebrate and make memories with loved ones. The goal is to enjoy yourself without obsessing over food or weight – and all these tips are designed to help you do that!
It’s not about putting even more rules and restrictions on yourself. Instead, it’s about planning ahead and making sure you always have delicious, healthy options on hand. Being prepared with simple strategies and nutritious recipes helps you make mindful choices while enjoying the festivities stress-free.
If you’re used to battling guilt and temptation over the festive season, it’s time to break the cycle this year! Take a deep breath, plan ahead and find that middle ground, where you’re enjoying delicious treats with intention, confident that you’re still fuelling your body with the good stuff.
A healthy holiday season shouldn’t mean stressing about your eating habits. Instead, it’s setting yourself up for a wonderful Christmas filled with joy, laughter, good food and even better company. Cheers to that!
Here are a few more articles to help you have the healthiest Christmas yet:
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