These healthy twists on holiday classic recipes keep the flavor while offering more nutrition with less calories, sodium, and processed ingredients. Holiday classics are popular for a reason and we don’t want to lose the soul of the dish for the sake of a few calories. These twists are more focused on ingredient substitutions that provide the same familiar experience we love and expect while making healthier holiday meals. We also don’t want to get anyone uninvited to family dinners in the future so it has to be delicious.
Popular Ingredient Substitutions
Before we get to specific recipes, these general ingredient substitutions can give you flexibility as you think through your own recipes. These substitutions can even be better tasting than the original or offer better texture to the food. It’s not always about nutrition, sometimes that is just a bonus.
Baking Substitutions
Baked goods are some of the most popular sweet and savory foods during the holidays but they can also represent some of the least healthy parts of a meal. These swaps take into consideration not just the flavor of the food but also how it bakes. Baking can be time consuming so this is a pretty safe list.
All-Purpose Flour → Whole-Grain or Almond Flour
- Add more fiber and nutrients with whole-grain flour or use almond flour for a low-carb, high protein option.
- Use In: Cookies, pie crusts, muffins, and quick breads.
Sugar → Natural Sweeteners (Honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or stevia.)
- Reducing refined sugar is important for everyone but especially for people with heart or blood pressure issues. The natural sweeteners also include additional nutrients or you can use stevia for a calorie-free option.
- Use In: Pies, cakes, and holiday drinks like hot chocolate or cider.
Butter → Unsweetened Applesauce or Greek Yogurt
- This might be a swap that becomes a permanent change. The applesauce and greek yogurt brings a better texture and flavor while offering additional nutrients and higher protein in the yogurt.
- Use In: Brownies, cakes, and muffins.
Heavy Cream → Coconut Milk or Cashew Cream
- Add a better, creamier texture while lowering saturated fats by substituting heavy cream for these alternatives. Heavy cream adds fat quickly to a dish so this can make a big difference.
- Use In: Custards, soups, and whipped toppings.
Meat Substitutions
Often the centerpiece of a dish, these substitutions taste as good as the original while delivering a much healthier option.
Pork Sausage → Turkey or Chicken Sausage
- Reduce saturated fats and potentially sodium when swapping from pork to turkey or chicken sausage
- Use In: Stuffing, casseroles, or breakfast dishes.
Ground Beef → Lentils or Mushrooms
- Not just vegetarian but also providing more fiber with fewer calories and fat while maintaining the same texture.
- Use In: Shepherd’s pie, stuffing, or meatloaf.
Holiday Sweets Substitutions
Dessert can quickly overload you on sugar, fats, and calories. Making small changes can make a huge difference.
Whipped Cream → Coconut Whipped Cream
- Keep the fun and flavor and drop the calories by swapping whipped cream to coconut whipped cream. It’s also a dairy-free alternative for lactose intolerant guests.
- Use In: Desserts like pies, hot chocolate, or as a topping for fruit.
Pie Crust → Nut or Oat-Based Crust
- Gluten-free high in fiber and healthy fats, switching to a nut or oat-based crust can become a permanent change to your pie recipes. It’s great change that isn’t just about being healthier.
- Use In: Pumpkin pie, quiches, or tarts.
Healthier Holiday Classic Meals
Lighter Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes might be the most popular side at any dinner. The creamy potatoes mix the buttery flavor with the texture perfectly. The cream and butter can make this side dish incredibly unhealthy. The saturated fats and calories can be reduced by swapping in Greek yogurt or unsweetened almond milk instead of heavy cream. These alternatives not only preserve the texture but can provide a similar or better flavor.
If you want to go a step further, swap the potatoes for cauliflower or parsnips for less carbs. The texture is extremely similar and with enough garlic and fresh herbs the flavor difference won’t be noticed. You may have to lie to people about this change though. Once people it they won’t notice but knowing up front tends to be less popular.
Whole Grain Stuffing
This is an easy change. Swapping the white bread for whole grain bread reduces the refined ingredients and adds fiber as well as other nutrients. Incorporate more vegetables to improve overall nutrient value while swapping in mushrooms for added protein without needing to add sausage.
Green Bean Casserole, Reinvented
Green bean casserole is some people’s favorite dish at the holidays but the cream makes it heavy with fats and calories. Instead of using canned cream soup make a light sauce with almond milk or low-sodium chicken broth thickened with whole-wheat flour. This will drop the sodium, fats, and calories while providing a better flavor. The fried onions are a particular favorite component of the dish but baked shallots or toasted breadcrumbs can provide a similar flavor and crunch without the added fats.
Sweet Potato Casserole with a Nutty Crunch
Sweet Potato Casserole always stands out on the table. The bright orange with the stark white, marshmallow topping is a beautiful dish and adds a contrast to the rest of the holiday meal. That being said, there is a ton of sugar in sweet potatoes and obviously in the marshmallows. Exchange the marshmallows with a bit of maple syrup for a natural sweetener and top it with nuts and oats for a satisfying crunch packed with nutrients.
Holiday Meal Prep
Explore alternative recipes that will impress your guests and leave you feeling the familiar joy while also being healthier holiday meals.
Check out our other articles for in-depth instructions on “How to Cook Turkey” and meal prepping tips perfect for the holidays with “Mise En Place”. You can also view some of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes.
