The holiday season is a time for celebration, joy, and of course, delicious food! However, festive gatherings don't have to derail your healthy eating habits. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the flavors of Christmas while still nourishing your body. This article will explore a variety of healthy Christmas party food ideas, offering a range of appetizers, sides, and even main course options to make your holiday gatherings both festive and nutritious.
Appetizers to Kick Off the Festivities
A great party always starts with canapés or appetizers, so while you're preparing the big meal, serve your guests these small bites.
Deviled Trees: It’s hard to resist these adorable deviled trees on our buffet table. The avocado filling has pepperoncini and cilantro for extra zip.
Gramby Meatballs: These meatballs are a great way to make spinach palatable.
Stuffed Mushrooms: Basil, Parmesan cheese and mushroom blend together well, while buttery pecans give these treats a surprising crunch.
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Tex-Mex Appetizer Pizza: This Tex-Mex spin on classic appetizer pizza is one we have again and again.
Veggie Kabobs: Trade in the usual veggie party platter for these fun kabobs. It’s a great recipe for the kids to help make.
Shrimp with Zesty Sauce: These easy shrimp look impressive on a buffet table and taste even better! The zesty sauce has a wonderful spicy citrus flavor. It can be prepared ahead of time.
Cucumber Slices with Salmon Filling: It’s so easy to top crunchy cucumber slices with a smooth and creamy salmon filling. Guests rave about the fun presentation, contrasting textures and refreshing flavor.
Pepper Tapenade: These appetizers only take 15 minutes to whip up and pop in the fridge. Sometimes I swap out the almonds for walnuts or pecans.
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Manchego Cheese and Roasted Grapes: This appetizer always impresses folks who’ve never tasted roasted grapes. They're amazing.
Shrimp Cakes: They were such a hit that I was flooded with requests for the recipe the next day.
Brussels Sprouts with Cheese: Combine these roasted goodies with cheese for the ultimate toast topper.
Tomato Poppers: Besides being tasty, these little tomato poppers are extra awesome because you can make them ahead of time. At parties, I often triple the recipe because they disappear fast.
Healthy Holiday Snacking Platter: Try creating a beautiful spread that requires little prep, and no cooking. This version is simply fresh veggies, hummus, nuts, mini mozzarella balls, pickles and some crackers.
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Dips and Spreads for Healthy Snacking
Dips and spreads are a fantastic way to offer a variety of flavors and textures while keeping things relatively healthy. Serve with an assortment of fresh vegetables, whole-grain crackers, or pita bread for dipping.
Hummus: My version of hummus features a delightful nuttiness from tahini, a peanut butter-like paste made from ground sesame seeds. The beans pack a lot of protein so it’s a healthy snack for kids.
Dill Dip: Be prepared-you’ll likely need to make a double batch of this delightful dill dip recipe. It tastes fantastic with just about any vegetable, so you can use whatever you have on hand as a dipper.
Festive Dip: This festive dip is a snap to make, taking only 10 minutes from start to finish. Thanks to its hint of sweetness, both kids and adults will gobble it up.
Zesty Dip: A friend gave me this zesty dip recipe many years ago, and now I serve it at our annual holiday open house. To make it mobile, spoon a serving of the dip in the bottom of a small cup, then garnish with fresh veggies.
Pepper Tapenade: When entertaining, I often rely on my pepper tapenade recipe because these appetizers only take 15 minutes to whip up and pop in the fridge. Sometimes I swap out the almonds for walnuts or pecans.
Crab Dip: We enjoyed this exquisite crab dip at my grandson’s wedding reception. It looks fancy but is easy to make. You can even fill the bread bowl early in the day and chill it until serving. Just remove it from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
Quick Hummus Dip: This quick and easy dip begins with purchased hummus.
Muhammara: Muhammara is a delicious, lightly spicy dip made from roast red bell peppers and walnuts.
Mixed Olive and Ricotta Dip: This delicious mixed olive and ricotta dip is the perfect appetizer or snack for a holiday party!
Skordalia: This recipe for a potato and garlic dip, called skordalia, is a delicious snack or appetizer.
Whipped Feta Dip: You are going to love this delicious whipped feta dip!
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: Hummus is a protein-packed starter that’s perfect for just about any occasion. If you want to keep things on the lighter side, simply serve it with carrot sticks, celery, and bell pepper.
Salads and Vegetable Dishes
Incorporating salads and vegetable dishes into your Christmas party menu is a great way to add color, texture, and essential nutrients.
Crunchy Vegetable Salad: Crunchy Vegetable Salad is a tasty and colorful side dish Linda Russell of Exeter, Ontario frequently puts on her table.
Roasted Vegetables: Eat these roasted veggies with a crunchy baguette or a couple of cheeses. You can also double, or triple, the amounts and have leftovers to toss with spaghetti the next day.
Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Goat Cheese: I wanted to up my veggie game, so I smothered Brussels sprouts with garlic and goat cheese. It’s really a side dish, but I love to eat it for lunch!
Radish Salsa: Radishes add a wonderful crunch to this colorful salsa that is also great over grilled fish. There’s just enough jalapeno to give flavor without much of the heat.
Caprese Wreath: This beautiful and festive Caprese wreath is a wonderful holiday appetizer or side salad.
Cabbage Salad: This salad is crisp and crunchy in every bite thanks to the fresh apple, cabbage, and toasted pecans. The best part? It can be prepared up to two days in advance!
Christmas Crudités: This cute idea turns veggies and dip into a colorful wreath! Just place your creamy herb dip in a bowl in the center then surround it with red and green vegetables on the plate.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad: Brussels sprouts are no longer the dreaded dish of your childhood. Now, we find them prepared in all kinds of recipes, including raw Brussels sprouts salads! It's crunchy, fresh, and perfect for kicking off the holidays.
Garlic Green Beans: Sometimes simple is the best-and healthiest-way to go! These green beans only need a little bit of oil and butter plus some flavorful garlic to make them shine.
Roasted Cauliflower: Roasted cauliflower can go with any main course this Christmas, whether it's turkey, fish, or even a vegetarian centerpiece. It's a quick and simple vegetable side that everyone will love.
Brussels Sprouts Casserole: This dish is like a potato gratin, but instead of starchy potatoes, it uses healthy Brussels sprouts instead. Don't worry, it's still comforting and delicious!
Festive Main Courses
While appetizers and sides are important, the main course is often the star of the show. Here are some healthier options that still deliver on flavor and holiday spirit.
Stuffed Turkey Breast: Just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean it can’t be special. This show-stopping main course takes lean turkey breast and turns it into a beautiful centerpiece.
Roast Chicken: A roast chicken is surprisingly simple, yet perfectly elegant. Basically it's the ultimate holiday meal! Ree says it's "buttery, lemony, herby, and extremely tasty."
Cauliflower Steak: You can serve these vegetable "steaks" as a main course or a side dish. Either way, they showcase just how deeply caramelized and delicious cauliflower can be.
Baked Salmon: Not only will baked salmon be an impressive centerpiece on your holiday table, but it only takes 20 minutes to make! That means you'll have plenty of time for Christmas sides (and even desserts).
Air-Fryer Turkey Breast: Lean white meat turkey is easy to prepare with this recipe that uses a handy air fryer. It'll save you both time and space in the oven.
Stuffed Acorn Squash: This dish is cozy, comforting, and healthy at the same time. The seasonal squash is filled with veggies, sausage, and cooked rice (opt for brown rice or even quinoa if you prefer it).
Creative Bites and Platters
Antipasto Christmas Wreath: This Antipasto Christmas Wreath is the cutest holiday appetizer!
Christmas Charcuterie Board: This pretty Christmas charcuterie board is centered around a festive Caprese candy cane.
Persimmon Prosciutto Crostinis with Homemade Ricotta: This simple recipe for persimmon prosciutto crostinis with homemade ricotta is a wonderful appetizer.
Endive Salad Bites: These delicious endive salad bites have citrus, grilled feta, toasted nuts, fresh herbs, and pomegranate seeds.