If you are hosting a get-together this Christmas holiday, you won't want to be spending every single second slogging over a hot stove, right?  

Well, I've got some easy, healthy Christmas menu suggestions to help you get organised, and fast!

I've included a few Mediterranean-style suggestions along with the more traditional Christmas fare, because we all know food at this time of year does tend to be heavy and fattening. However, Mediterranean food is extremely heart healthy. 

So, if you fancy trying something a little different from the norm, here are my healthy Christmas menu suggestions:

Holiday appetizer ideas

You should try to keep appetizers on the simple side to save yourself some time. However, simple doesn't need to mean boring.

Here are a few appetizer suggestions:

• Smoked salmon, served on radish slices, topped with reduced fat cream cheese and chives
• Dates and walnuts
• Apricot halves, topped with reduced fat cream cheese, and crushed pistachio nuts
• Dips and vegetable crudites 
• Mediterranean option — green olive and almond tapenade, served with wholegrain crackers for dipping. Or, Greek salad skewers with cucumber, feta cheese, olives and tomatoes

Holiday main ideas

• Apple and leek stuffed pork
• Herb roasted turkey
• Whole citrusy salmon
• Beef fillet
• Vegetarian ideas — stuffed artichoke, stuffed bell peppers, or a nut roast

Holiday side dish ideas

Plan for at least three side dishes, for a well-rounded meal, and to make sure your plate looks colourful and interesting.

A salad, one green vegetable, like Brussels sprouts or green beans, and some carrots or red cabbage, will work really well. Then add a starchy dish, like squash or sweet potatoes, and you are all set.

Mediterranean option — try some roasted vegetables, such as zucchini, peppers, eggplant and red onion, drizzled with a little olive oil, some fresh herbs, and cracked black pepper. Also, rather than serving creamy mashed potatoes, you could go for some roasted potato wedges tossed in olive oil and crushed garlic.

Holiday dessert ideas

Even if you are watching your waistline, what would your holiday meal be like without dessert? The secret is watching your portion size, and not overdoing it with drinks and snacks at other times — in other words, saving up those extra calories so that you can enjoy a little dessert.

If you are short on time, choose a dessert recipe that can be prepared in advance, so that you have a few less things to worry about later on.

Here is a very nice alternative to traditional pie, from Eating Well. This recipe calls for cranberries, but you could also use apples, pears, peaches, plums or any slightly acidic fruit. 

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Serves 10 

Prep time: 30 minutes

Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes (including 15 minutes cooling time)