Healthy Holiday Recipes the Whole Family Will Love

When it comes to my cooking skills I like to say that I “intentionally set the bar low.” I’m not a horrible cook but I don’t have a tremendous amount of time to prepare meals. Nutrition is important to me so I try and make balanced meals with the extremely small amount of time I have. Let’s just say it doesn’t always add up to the most gourmet meal. It’s always edible but by no means am I known for my tremendous cooking.

To make things even trickier I have a 4 year old daughter and as most moms know kids’ tastebuds aren’t always as adventurous as grown-ups. For awhile I tried to cater to the tastebuds of my 4 year old. That got old pretty quickly. She’s not really a picky eater but like I said, grown-up tastebuds and kids’ tastebuds are extremely different.

Perhaps you’re in charge of the holiday meal this year and are wondering, what can I make to please everyone? It’s probably impossible to please every single person but with one of these delicious recipes your guests will likely be looking for seconds.

• Ravioli and Zucchini Lasagna: This recipe uses thinly cut zucchini slices instead of traditional lasagna noodles to add an extra serving of vegetables to your dish. Zucchini is full of vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate which act as antioxidants. Zucchini is also high in manganese which helps protect the body from oxidative stress.
• Sausage Calzones: If you’re pressed for time this may be a great recipe for you to try. With only 6 ingredients needed it’s a quick and easy recipe to make. You could also add in additional vegetables to get even more nutrients.
• Warm Broccoli Carrot Slaw: This can be a great side dish for your holiday meal and is another dish that’s easy to throw together. Broccoli and carrots are both nutrient dense and a garlic butter sauce will make them taste even better!
• Pork Tenderloin with Seasoned Rub: I made this pork tenderloin for my daughter and I a few weeks ago and she loved it. It was super easy to make and quite delicious too. The majority of the ingredients I had in my pantry already but did make a few simple substitutions and it still turned out great. Highly recommend it for a Christmas meal or for any other night.

And since I’ve covered some main dishes and side dishes I thought I should include a few “healthier” dessert recipes you may want to try too.

• Sugared Cranberries: What’s not to love about fruit and sugar, right? These cranberries are the perfect combination of tart and sweet and are great as a snack or as a dessert.
• Oatmeal Toffee Cookies: These cookies are a healthier option when making Christmas cookies. Remember, everything in moderation!

What are your favorite holiday meals & traditions? Let us know in the comment section below!

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