Looking for some nutritious holiday recipes to include on your menu this year?
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite options made from nutrient-dense whole foods. All of our recipes are also dairy and gluten free for those with sensitivities who need variations on some traditional recipes!
It’s great to enjoy the original versions of these recipes — regardless of the ingredients. But sometimes, you need a nutritious option for one reason or another. It’s all about being intentional and having a balanced mindset!
Find that area right in the middle — where you are nourished and also have room to enjoy the joy surrounding your dining experience.
Here are some holiday recipes that are great nutritious options. These are all easy to make and store well for leftovers!
How to make balanced meals during the holidays
One way to bring more balance to the holidays is to make a balanced dish at every meal.
The way we do this here at Nutrition Stripped is using our Foundational Five system. This
The fundamental five are the five elements of a balanced meal: non-starchy carbohydrates, starchy carbohydrates, healthy fat, protein and what we call the taste factor.
Making a Fundal Five Nourish Meal, which aims to include all five of these on your plate, helps support your digestion, stabilize your blood sugar and give you the steady energy you need to feel your best.
Our Essential Five Nutritious Meals can be found as smoothies, yogurts, oatmeal or breakfast bowls, nutrition bowls, salads, soups, stews and more. Not every meal needs to be a basic five, but if you make sure to have most of these five items on your plate at most meals, you’ll feel the difference.
If you need more support in creating balanced meals, sign up for the Healthy Eating Made Easy with The Foundational Five course.
Lunch
The holidays are often a time to slow down and often when we have more days off and late mornings. Starting the morning with a nutritious holiday recipe that you can look forward to either sharing with loved ones or simply appreciating the slowness and peace of a morning where you don’t have much on your to-do list is one of those few everyday moments that we often overlook or we take for granted.
Baked raspberry puree
This baked blueberry pudding has just the right balance of sweet and savory! An added bonus to this recipe is that it uses pantry-friendly foods and frozen fruit, making it affordable and easy to make. You can also store leftovers in the fridge and reheat them throughout the week!
Caramelized onion and pear frittata
Frittatas, in general, are one of the easiest nutritious holiday recipes to make with incredible versatility. This Caramelized Onion and Pear Frittata combines the sweet and savory flavors of sweet caramelized onion, pear, and protein-rich eggs. Makes a great breakfast, quick lunch or reheated dinner, even a meal on the go!
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Smoothie
If there’s one thing we know about the Nutrition Stripped community, it’s that you all love smoothies — all year round! This smoothie tastes like Autumn in a glass!
Smoothies might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fall and winter recipes, but they’re so convenient and you can use seasonal flavors to switch it up from what you’ve been drinking all summer.
Main course
During the holidays, the main course tends to contain an animal protein such as turkey or ham. But if you either don’t enjoy these types of protein or eat more plant-based, these protein-packed plant-based holiday recipes will be a great addition to the menu. These recipes make a smaller portion, so they would be easier to manage for 1-4 people if you’re having an intimate celebration this year.
Vegetarian bread with nuts
One of the common questions we get this time of year is how to make substantial, filling, delicious, and effortless vegetarian food for the holidays. I heard it and we served it today.
Holiday Acorn Squash Bowls with Stuffed Rice
This healthy food for two makes it easy to celebrate many seasonal flavors with a satisfying blend of wild rice and nuts, along with a blend of warming herbs. Not to mention, the delivery of this recipe is basically chef-worthy.
White beans with the best broth ever
This easy recipe puts beans front and center for plenty of plant-based protein and energizing carbs. It quickly became a favorite of the Nutrition Stripped community and is one of those recipes that anyone would love, especially since it requires minimal effort! Serve it with greens and you’re good to go!
Side dishes
The sides are one of the most fun parts of the holidays! You can fill your plate with one or more of these sides that incorporate highly nutritious and satisfying ingredients into these traditional recipes.
Green Bean Casserole of vegetable origin
No matter the time of year, this healthy and easy to make plant-based green bean casserole is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Fresh green beans and herbs, and creamy vegetable mushroom soup combine to create the perfect side dish. Steamed cauliflower puree creates a creamy and rich texture without the need for dairy.
Mashed baked sweet potatoes
These Mashed Baked Sweet Potatoes are the perfect nutritious holiday recipe that is packed with nutrients and easy to make!
Baking sweet potatoes in the oven gives you smooth and tender potatoes and a caramelized flavor profile that you can’t get from boiling. Adding fresh thyme to this dish gives it a savory, festive freshness. Using gluten-free miso adds a rich earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the fries.
Gluten Free Jalapeno Cornbread
Cornmeal is one of those comfort foods that you can eat year-round to feel nostalgic. It’s hot and delicious and if you have an oven and a pan it really couldn’t be easier to make. If jalapeño peppers are too spicy for your taste, try something else, like bell peppers or sun-dried tomatoes.
Dessert
There are so many dessert options available and you may already have a favorite in mind. If you’re looking to try some new recipes, you can’t go wrong with one (or more) of these!
Boiled apples
A warm fruit dessert brings those warm vibes to any celebration! You can serve these boiled apples on their own or with a scoop of your favorite ice cream! Top with pecans for some extra crunch and healthy fat too!
Homemade raw chocolate, in many ways
By adding things like strawberry puree, a shot of espresso, key lime juice, cocoa powder, and vanilla to the basic recipe, you’ll make a variety of raw chocolates in minutes that will all be totally indulgent and delicious. You can also experiment with fillings like nut butter or fruit preserves. All in all, you can have many different raw chocolates to find your favorite!
Raspberry Cashew Butter Cookies
These Cashew Butter Cookies are so easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry and fridge! The fun thing about this cookie recipe is that you can easily replace the cashew butter and blueberry jam with your preferred flavor of nut butter and jam, making it your own!
More Favorite Holiday Recipes!
16 Baking Blogs to Follow for Delicious Dessert Ideas
20 Recipe Blogs to Bookmark for Nutritious Meal Ideas
12 Food Blogs to Find Traditional and Contemporary Jewish Recipes
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