3 Delicious Healthy Holiday Recipes

The holiday season means family, friends and, of course, food.  Try these healthy holiday recipes to celebrate with festive and good-for-you meals!

Mashed Cauliflower

Instead of having all the carbs and calories and excess sugars from potatoes, use cauliflower for equally good taste without adding any inches to your waistline.

Ingredients:

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1 smashed garlic clove
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ tablespoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon reduced fat cream cheese

Directions:

• Steam the cauliflower until tender
• Heat olive oils in a small skillet and then stir in garlic until softened and remove from heat
• Once tender place the cauliflower in a food processor and blend on high. Add remaining florets one at a time until all is creamy. Then add in garlic, cheeses, salt, and pepper and blend. Enjoy!

Grilled Duck Breast with Strawberry Fig Sauce

Duck is lean and contains more iron per serving than chicken or turkey and some cuts of beef. Replace the holiday ham, turkey, or chicken with a duck and the great flavors may surprise you.

Ingredients:

• 4 duck breast halves
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 ounces raspberries
• 4 teaspoons demerara sugar
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• ½ cup red wine
• ¼ cup de cassis liqueur

Directions:

• Preheat the oven on broil. Score the duck breasts, but not all the way through the meat.
• Sear the duck breasts in a large skillet on medium/high until the fat runs out. Remove the breasts and pour out the fat and then return the breasts for 10 minutes. Then place them on a baking sheet.
• Mix the sea salt, cinnamon, and sugar together and sprinkle over the breasts.
• Mix the red wine, cassis, and cornstarch together in a small bowl. Simmer for 3 minutes in a pan while stirring constantly. Add the raspberries once the sauce is thickened and simmer for another minute.
• Broil the duck breasts until the sugar caramelizes. Then slice the breasts thinly and pour the sauce over the top. Yum!

Buttermilk Pralines

Buttermilk contains very little fat compared to regular milk. It adds a pleasant tang to food and gives a softer texture and more body. Basically, it’s just all around better than regular milk.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup whole buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1.5 teaspoons butter
• Dash of salt
• 1.5 tablespoons light colored corn syrup
• 1.5 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup chopped toasted pecans

Directions:

• Combine sugar, buttermilk, corn syrup, baking soda, and salt into a large saucepan. Cook on low heat until the sugar is gone and stir constantly. Continue over a low heat for about 10 minutes then remove and let it stand for 5 minutes.
• Stir in nuts, butter, and vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon for about 6 minutes. Spoon onto wax paper and let stand for 20 minutes until they set.

All of these recipes will taste great and keep you on track with staying healthy. Your new years resolution might be to lose weight, but you can start early with these delicious healthy holiday recipes.

Let’s face it—the holidays can be stressful.  What if you could combat stress with exercise? Discover how exercise reduces stress and makes you happy!