This holiday season, you can celebrate without saying no to delicious food. Simply tweak your traditional meal to provide smart choices for guests who want to lead healthy, balanced lifestyles or who have special menu needs due to heart disease or diabetes.
Start 'em off right. Load your appetizer tray with plenty of raw fruits and vegetables. Serve carrots, celery, cauliflower, and broccoli with hummus for a helping of good monounsaturated fat. Arrange apples, orange slices, and other seasonal fruits in a colorful, vitamin-packed display. Fiber-rich fruits and veggies will fill up your guests so they won't overeat later. You can warm them up for the main course with a bowl of nutritious, hearty soup.
Raise a glass to good health. Limiting alcohol is important for people with diabetes. Go ahead and serve alcoholic beverages, but offer alternatives, such as cider, low-fat hot cocoa, or sparkling water with lime.
Make a marvelous main course. Traditional turkey is quite healthy because it's low in fat and high in protein. So is chicken—just be sure to remove the skin and trim all excess fat. Or go for an unexpected meat dish with heart-healthy, oven-baked fish. Remember to serve sauce and gravy on the side.
Vary the veggies. Choose lots of color for a festive look and an abundance of protective antioxidants. Steam your vegetables instead of sautéing them in butter. For crispy, caramelized vegetables, spray them with olive oil, roast, and then spritz with lemon juice.
Substitute side dishes. Create casseroles with fat-free or light sour cream or yogurt. Substitute chopped vegetables for some of the bread in your stuffing recipe. Sweet potatoes will give your guests double the fiber they'd get in white potatoes. Or you can cut down on carbs by mashing cauliflower instead.
Break bread together. Whole-grain rolls pack extra fiber. To encourage portion control, don't lay out separate plates for breads and salads. Give each guest just one plate for everything.
Indulge in dessert. Create a decadent finale by topping angel food cake with fresh fruit and low-fat frozen yogurt. A cup of pudding becomes a special treat when smothered with Reddi-wip and garnished with dark-chocolate shavings. Or bring out the kid in your guests with Healthy Choice® frozen novelties, such as our Mocha Fudge Swirl Bar or Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Sandwich. Reluctant to give up your traditional desserts? Many of your favorite recipes will taste just as good if you use applesauce or a sugar substitute instead of sugar.
Planning a holiday feast can be time-consuming and tiring. When preparing for your guests (or decompressing the day after the party), why not let Healthy Choice do the cooking for you and your family instead of ordering takeout?
Healthy Choice Café Selections meals offer restaurant-inspired dishes that creatively combine colorful vegetables, seasoned meats, and succulent sauces. In just minutes, you can enjoy Creamy Dill Salmon—tender salmon and penne pasta with savory dill sauce. Or sink your teeth into Grilled Whiskey Steak in a tangy barbecue sauce with crisp vegetables. Do you crave Italian food? Try Grilled Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo for a delightfully creamy sauce over chicken, linguini, and broccoli florets. Your family will love the restaurant flavors. And you'll know you're feeding them well, because all Healthy Choice meals are certified by the American Heart Association®*.
