As the year draws to a close, many of us look forward to New Year's Eve celebrations filled with festive decorations, gatherings with loved ones, and of course, delicious food. But as we indulge in the festivities, it's also a great time to consider our health and well-being. With New Year's resolutions often revolving around healthier lifestyles, why not start the year right away with healthy New Year dishes?
Whether you're a dedicated vegan, a flexible flexitarian, or simply someone looking to incorporate more nutritious options into your diet, there are plenty of delicious and satisfying recipes to choose from. From vibrant appetizers to satisfying mains and guilt-free desserts, you can create a memorable and healthy New Year's Eve feast.
Setting the Scene for a Sparkling Celebration
The ambiance of your New Year's Eve dinner can enhance the entire experience. Taking inspiration from the traditional New Year's Eve attire of tuxedos, sequined dresses, and festive accessories, create a sparkling and sophisticated table setting. Think gold, silver, black, and white accents to evoke a sense of festivity.
Consider incorporating natural elements like evergreens and pine cones, perhaps painted with snow, to bring a touch of the countryside indoors. Commemorate the years gone by with special decorations, such as limited edition holly bells.
Toasting to Good Health with Refreshing Beverages
No New Year's Eve celebration is complete without a toast to the year ahead. But instead of reaching for sugary cocktails, opt for refreshing and healthy beverages that will keep you feeling good throughout the night.
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Mocktails with a Twist
For a festive, non-alcoholic option, try a pretty pink drink created by a Test Kitchen staff. This beverage offers a delightful combination of flavors without any added guilt.
Cranberry Lime Sparkler: When cranberry and lime juice get together, the result is thirst-quenching. Add ice and you’ve got a party in a glass. You could also use boysenberries, raspberries or strawberries for this delicious dessert. 3/4 cup: 248 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 78mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 5g fiber), 6g protein.
Blackberry Shrub Syrup: Making a shrub recipe is a creative way to use up extra fruit. These shrubs are colorful and refreshing, perfect for summer drinks. 2 tablespoons blackberry shrub syrup: 83 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
Nonalcoholic Punch: This refreshing punch is convenient because you can make it ahead of time and just add the ginger ale just before serving. 1/2 cup: 76 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 5mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Mardi Gras Refresher: Revelers of all ages can enjoy a nonalcoholic version of the punchlike refresher that’s often called Mardi Gras in a glass. Adults who want a more authentic flavor can mix in rum. 3/4 cup (calculated without garnishes): 61 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 6mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
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Moroccan Mint Tea and Honeydew Agua Fresca: This refreshing beverage combines two favorite drinks. For extra flair, add some ginger ale. 1 cup: 81 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 9mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
Lemon Basil Twist: In this twist on the classic summer beverage, lemon and basil take the place of mint. For a grown-up version, just add your favorite rum or vodka. 1 serving: 101 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 36mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Warm Citrus Punch: Enjoy the sweet-tangy flavor of this warm citrus punch. 1 cup: 149 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Virginia Wine Pairings
"When preparing your holiday dinner, you cannot forget the wine." For wine enthusiasts, consider pairing your meal with Virginia wines. Bordeaux style blends, typically containing Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, are a great choice. These wines should be uncorked and allowed to breathe for a half hour to two hours before being served. Try Barboursville Vineyard’s award-winning Octagon or Rendezvous from RdV Vineyards for excellent Virginia options.
Appetizers to Kick Off the Celebration
Start your New Year's Eve feast with a selection of flavorful and healthy appetizers that will tantalize your taste buds without weighing you down.
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Stuffed Celery: This appetizer recipe for stuffed celery is a family tradition. The stuffing is so yummy that even if you don’t normally care for the ingredients on their own, you’ll love the end result.
Easy Appetizer: Five simple ingredients are all you need to wow friends and family with a tasty appetizer. 1 appetizer: 27 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 55mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Snappy Appetizers: These appetizers are easy to prepare and a snappy addition to any party. 1 appetizer: 20 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 38mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Bruschetta Board: A vibrant spread of crispy toasted baguette slices topped with a variety of fresh, flavorful ingredients like tomatoes, pesto, and seasonal fruit.
Edamame: Edamame are young soybeans in their pods. While I love to get them with my sushi when I go out, they are also so easy to make at home. 1 serving: 52 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 642mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
Stuffed Peppers: There's plenty of both crunch and cream in these party appetizers. Fresh chives help them really stand out. 1 stuffed pepper half: 48 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 68mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Hummus and Crudité Platter: With an abundant crudité platter on your table, you can make your eat-more-veggies-in-2025 goal a reality even before the clock strikes midnight.
Hummus Flatbread: Toasty, charred pita meets creamy and sweet hummus and gets topped with fresh and flavorful veggies.
Spiced Carrot and Hummus Toasts: Crunchy, toasted sourdough serves as the base with a thick smear of creamy hummus and sweet and spicy carrots to finish things off.
Baba Ganoush: Once your eggplant has been roasted, all that’s left to do is mix its creamy goodness with the ultimate blend of spices and flavorings (think: smoked paprika, thyme, garlic, tahini, and cumin).
Charcuterie Board: The components are totally up to you. Olives and nuts deliver a healthy dose of fats while fresh and dried fruits (grapes, figs, and pomegranate arils) lend a little antioxidant love to the mix. From there, sprinkle in some cheese and dried meats and top your crackers as you please.
Deviled Eggs: Herbs lend amazing flavor to these deviled eggs, which truly are the best you can make! 1 stuffed egg half: 73 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 81mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
Goat Cheese Spread: The tablespoon of honey is optional, but I think that touch of sweetness nicely complements the tang of the goat cheese. 2 tablespoons: 93 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 92mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
Spicy White Bean Dip: This tasty dip can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until serving. 1/4 cup (calculated without chips): 52 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 4mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
Fresh Seafood Poke Platter: Poke is wonderfully tasty, fresh and healthy. In Hawaii they make poke out of several kinds of fish and seafood.
Tuna Poke: Cut the tuna into small cubes and then toss with soy sauce, sesame oil and chives.
Salmon Poke: Cut the salmon into small cubes and then toss with soy sauce, chilli, sesame oil and chives.
Prawn Poke: Cut the prawns into small cubes and then toss with mayonnaise, soy sauce, flying fish roe and chives.
Whipped Feta Dip: Blend the feta and the marinating oil until fluffy and whipped. 350g/12.36ozs.
Edamame Dip: Blend the edamame beans with the olive oil. Then add in the chives, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. 250g/8.83ozs.
Mixed Savoury Platter: The main platter is mainly made up of food that you can buy at a deli counter so you may as well make use of what is available. Place "wet" items like olives, dolmades and pepper dews in a small bowl. Try for a mix of soft and hard cheeses.
Main Courses to Impress Your Guests
For a New Year's Eve gathering that's more of a sit-down celebration, choose a main course that will impress your guests without requiring hours in the kitchen.
Veggie-Packed Pasta: Intentionally rustic, this veggie-packed pasta is inherently and beautifully imperfect. This dish is creamy, comforting, and cheesy, but more than that, it’s full of nuanced flavor thanks to the miso and sage.
Fattoush Salad with Chicken: A delicious Lebanese salad with a special spice called sumac, chicken and mint.
Quinoa Salad: A Whole Foods Market copycat recipe, full of delicious ingredients and super good for you.
Bacon Chicken and Arugula Sandwich: The perfect sandwich for a snack or a healthy lunch.
Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon: 4 ingredients turn this salmon into a super star.
Honey Soy Chicken Drumsticks: Oven baked chicken in an amazing honey, soy and garlic sauce.
Fresh Sole Fish with Pea Salad: Fresh sole fish served over a delicious and healthy pea salad!
Thai Chicken Salad: This simple Thai chicken salad has incredible flavors - peanuts, mint, honey and lime. Topped with a delicious homemade dressing.
Chicken Enchilada Quinoa Bake: This Chicken Enchilada Quinoa bake is gluten free, packed with protein and loads of cheese. This casserole is a true crowd-pleaser.
Spicy Fish Taco Bowls: These spicy fish taco bowls are comfort food at its finest with a healthier twist.
Sweet Endings: Delicious and Guilt-Free Desserts
No New Year's Eve feast is complete without a sweet ending. But instead of reaching for heavy, sugary desserts, opt for lighter, healthier options that will satisfy your sweet cravings without derailing your health goals.
Berry Wine Dessert: End the meal with a flourish with this easy and elegant dessert. A hint of orange lends just enough sweetness to temper the wine's bold taste. 1 each: 239 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 23mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 5g fiber), 3g protein.
Stuffed Figs: These sweet, nutritious stuffed figs keep us all happy. 1 stuffed fig: 98 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 3mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 3g fiber), 1g protein.
Lemon Angel Food Cake: This dessert tastes exactly like a lemon meringue pie and that it's the best angel food cake anyone could ask for. Each slice is virtually fat free. 1 piece: 238 calories, 1g fat (1g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 121mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (41g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein.