Healthy Holiday Menu Plan Ideas

Are you concerned about maintaining a healthy eating plan throughout the holidays?

While the holiday season can be a bit of a challenge, with the right choices, and a little portion control, Christmas dinner itself can be a pretty healthy meal.

To keep your dinner plate portions healthy, follow this general rule of thumb for a well-balanced meal:

• 50% of your plate filled with vegetables
• 25% of your plate filled with meat, fish or alternatives
• 25% of your plate filled with carbohydrate foods
• A fruit based appetizer or dessert

If you follow this simple rule, you can still enjoy some of the foods you love, without putting your diet out of balance.

Here are a few suggestions for a healthy holiday menu plan:

Appetizer ideas

Fresh fruit sorbet.
Or
Homemade vegetable soup, served with a wholegrain bread roll.

Christmas dinner ideas

Roast turkey - just remember to remove the skin.
OR
Grilled salmon - drizzle a light crème fraiche and lemon sauce.
OR
Nut roast - for the vegetarian option.

Christmas side dish ideas

Spinach mash with reduced fat sour cream.
AND
Honey glazed carrots and parsnips.
AND
Green beans - dressed with olive oil, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice.

OR
Mixed leaf salad.

Dessert ideas

Remember having a small portion is key here!

Seasonal berry crumble, with wholemeal flour, oats and nuts, served with light creme fraiche.
OR
Fruit pudding (reduced sugar), served with homemade reduced sugar coulis, rather than cream or brandy butter.
AND
Seasonal fresh fruit platter.

Healthy snack ideas

Constantly picking at potato chips and chocolate over the holidays, as well as drinking alcohol can add more than 1,000 calories per day. So, try to replace some of these snacks with healthier alternatives to keep your diet well balanced.

As an alternative to savory snacks such as potato chips or salted nuts, go for:

• Plain popcorn
• Mixed vegetable crudités platter
• Rice cakes
• Toasted wholegrain pita triangles and salsa dip
• Pretzels

As a healthier alternative to sweet snacks such as chocolates and cake, go for:

• Dried fruit dipped in dark chocolate
• Mixed fresh fruit platter
• Natural yoghurt with seasonal berries and chopped nuts

Best wishes for the holiday season!

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