Indulging in classic dishes like juicy prime rib, velvety smooth mashed potatoes, creamy hot cocoa, and rich pumpkin pie is part of the holiday fun, but too much of a good thing can leave you feeling less than in the seasonal spirit. The good news is that there’s plenty of room for compromise. With a few strategic tweaks, you can dramatically lighten up your favorite recipes without sacrificing taste…or your health.

Build a better cheese tray

Build a Better Cheese Tray

 

Mingle a few reduced-fat cheeses in with your usual selections to offer health-conscious guests a lighter option (use cute tags to label your choices). Round out your tray with whole-grain crackers (they have a heartier flavor and texture than bland white ones) and plenty of seasonal fresh fruit, such as sliced apples, pears, figs, and purple grapes.

Go skinny-dipping

Go Skinny-Dipping

 

Substitute nonfat Greek or traditional yogurt for calorie-laden sour cream or mayonnaise in any of your favorite dip recipes. Thick, tangy fat-free Greek yogurt adds body and creaminess to dips for a fraction of the calories and contributes a shot of filling protein too. If you prefer the taste of mayo or sour cream, simply go for the light versions.

Makeover your mash

Makeover Your Mash

 

Potatoes alone offer plenty of beneficial nutrients, including potassium and vitamin C, but mashing them together with loads of butter, whole milk, and heavy cream can weigh them down a bit. You can up the health factor and lighten them up by replacing full-fat dairy with low-fat buttermilk or 1% milk and melting in just a tablespoon of butter for a hint of richness. Ramp up the flavor by adding fresh herbs, spices, and other flavor enhancers, such as sweet roasted garlic or even smoky hot chipotle peppers.

Cranberry sauce

Clean Up Cranberry Sauce

 

Enjoy the health benefits of antioxidant-rich cranberries without lots of added sugar by making a homemade cran-apple sauce with plenty of chopped fresh apples. Combining the super-tart cranberries with apples allows you to sweeten up the dish naturally. A hint of fresh ginger and cinnamon adds a unique twist

Sip slim with skim

Sip Slim With Skim

 

Festive hot drinks, like hot chocolate and peppermint lattes, are in season, and should definitely be enjoyed with all their warm and creamy goodness. However, there are quick and easy tweaks that can help lighten them up. It’s easy enough to request skim milk instead of whole to save up to 100 cals per 16-ounce serving.

Lighten up eggnog

Lighten Up Eggnog

 

Eggnog tastes rich and silky, smooth for a reason. It’s made with the tasty trio of whole milk, cream, and egg yolks. Health-ify your favorite recipe by swapping out at least half the heavy cream for evaporated skim milk. If you’re sipping the store-bought stuff, dilute your glass with skim or soy milk to save yourself extra cals, fat, and sugar.

Pumpkin

Cut the Crust

 

If you’re one of the many who eat pumpkin pie just for the filling, consider losing the crust completely to shave off at least 100 calories per slice. Simply prepare your standard filling recipe and pour it into individual ramekins coated with oil spray. Bake the filling until just set, top each cup with a dollop of whipped cream, and you’ve got a delicious pumpkin custard with fun presentation to boot. If apple pie is your thing, forget about the crust and dump the apple filling directly into a glass pie plate coated with oil spray (consider cutting back on the sugar in the filling to go even lighter). Top with a mixture of rolled oats, a little brown sugar, cinnamon, and a couple tablespoons of butter or soft buttery spread worked together with your fingertips until crumbly.

Rethink your roast

Rethink Your Roast

 

For meat lovers, nothing says holiday celebration quite like a perfectly cooked slab of prime rib. I don’t mean to sound like the Grinch here, but it’s also one of the fattiest cuts going. For an equally elegant meal that’s more health- and heart-friendly, consider swapping your rib roast for a succulent, lean beef tenderloin, which has about half the calories and less than a quarter of the fat. Or, branch out from beef and try other lean holiday entrées, like roast turkey, Cornish game hens, or pork tenderloin.

Green beans go lean

Green Beans Go Lean

 

There’s no denying the Green Bean Casserole is a classic, but why not serve up a fresher, brighter side that will make your veggies really shine? Top steamed, tender-crisp green beans with sautéed shallots and toasted slivered almonds and drizzle on a squeeze of fresh lemon. It has all the elements you need (and love) for a scrumptious side: crunchy almonds, flavorful shallots, fiber-rich green beans and citrusy lemon juice. It satisfies without weighing you down.

Lighten up latkes

Lighten Up Latkes

 

It’s fine to indulge in the real thing—crispy, fried latkes—at least once during Hanukkah festivities, but if they’re going to be a regular feature on your holiday table, experiment with better-for-you versions that are baked or cooked in a nonstick pan with just a small amount of oil. Or, get creative with recipes that use low-cal veggies like zucchini, cauliflower, or broccoli in place of starchy potatoes. Dollop your latkes with lighter toppings, including light sour cream, nonfat Greek yogurt, or natural (unsweetened) apple sauce.

 

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Intro

Indulging in classic dishes like juicy prime rib, velvety smooth mashed potatoes, creamy hot cocoa, and rich pumpkin pie is part of the holiday fun, but too much of a good thing can leave you feeling less than in the seasonal spirit. The good news is that there’s plenty of room for compromise. With a few strategic tweaks, you can dramatically lighten up your favorite recipes without sacrificing taste…or your health.