Did you know that Christmas Eve dinner is usually equal to all meals for a day? It is estimated that it is around 2,280 calories; however the average daily calories that a healthy adult should consume are between 2,000-2,500 for men and 1,500-2,000 for women. And then we can eat tasty at Christmas without getting fat? Believe it or not, the answer is yes, but to achieve this you need to plan a balanced menu and implement some healthy habits for the whole season, but of course, without depriving yourself of good food.
We do our bit for you to get it, giving you the 80 best healthy recipes for Christmas, a very complete selection with snacks, starters, main dishes and desserts.
Christmas consommé
If you are looking for healthy starters for Christmas, try this classic, it will make your guests stomach before tasting everything you have prepared for them that night. This dish has it all, because it is nutritious, comforting, economical, very digestible and light. A cup has about 340 grams and provides about 150 calories. Take note of the following steps and prepare this rich Christmas consommé.
Stuffed turkey breast
Turkey is considered one of the lightest white meats, since it contains almost no fat, and, consequently, its caloric content is very low, approximately 107 calories per 100 grams. So, we include this protein in our healthy menu for Christmas. In addition, this time we present the recipe in the form of medallions with a vegetable filling, a content that does not add too many extra calories, thus obtaining a dish with an estimated 180 calories per 100 grams. In addition, we use the leanest cut of the bird, that is, the breast.
Believe us, although it is a very light meal, it is very tasty, it has a Christmas essence and its appearance is very attractive. What do you think of this proposal?
Healthy cheesecake
The cheesecake never disappoints anyone, as it is a classic pastry, and it is also perfect for Christmas Eve dinner. The only drawback is its high caloric content, approximately 381 calories per standard slice.
Do you have to deprive yourself of that pleasure? Not at all, that’s why here we propose a light cake for you to include among your healthy recipes for Christmas. This contains an estimated 111 calories in one serving (as long as you don’t include any toppings). A little less than half the calorie that a traditional cake normally has!
Tuna tartar with guacamole
Although we have included the tartar among our light starters, it has a slightly high caloric intake, estimated at 354 calories per serving, but they are not empty calories, as their nutritional composition is very complete. This preparation contains abundant Omega (of animal and vegetable origin), proteins of high biological value, many vitamins and minerals.
You can serve it with some soda crackers without salt; it will be an excellent way to prepare the palate of your guests for what is to come. Now, from what you can guess by looking at the photo, it is very easy to prepare quite a delicacy!
Tip: use only fresh, good quality ingredients.
Shrimp and hake ceviche
This light meal for Christmas has everything to start the most special evening of the year on the right foot. In addition, ceviche is a very tasty starter that does not require much work. Its nutritional content is very complete, since it provides good quality proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 3 , omega 6, abundant minerals (phosphorus, zinc, selenium, iodine, potassium, calcium, among others), and many vitamins (A, D , E, K and several of complex B).
The best of all? A cup of ceviche provides between 140-172 calories depending on the ingredients chosen. A luxury entree!
Hake en papillae with vegetables
The papillae is a very healthy cooking technique, as it greatly reduces the loss of nutrients during cooking, in addition, it also reduces the use of fat. If you want to make the most of this procedure, apply it to healthy meats accompanied by vegetables.
Thinking about all of the above, we include in our healthy menu for Christmas, an exquisite hake and vegetable papillae. This dish provides an estimated 232 calories per 150 grams, although these figures may change depending on the type of vegetables you add. Offer your guests this healthy and elegant dish, following the instructions for hake en papillae with vegetables.
Tip: papillae are a technique that enhances flavors.
Avocado chocolate mousse
This mousse is rich in healthy fats and antioxidants, from avocado and chocolate. In addition, its flavor and texture have nothing to envy to the traditional recipe. The flavor of the avocado contributes to its extra fluffy texture.
You are in front of a delicatessen that everyone will love, so you can include it without hesitation among your healthy recipes for Christmas, since a cup of this mousse provides approximately 261 non-empty calories. Serve it in glasses or cups. Decorate with berries or powdered dried fruit.
Tip: Preferably use Hass avocados, in their smaller version, as they have a creamier texture.
Asparagus wrapped in puff pastry
Healthy appetizers for Christmas can always turn into a taste surprise, as long as you choose wisely. Therefore, we bring you these ingenious and attractive snacks with an approximate caloric intake of 180 calories per serving. United in a balanced way in a bite that brings together a protein ingredient, another vegetable and a cereal derivative. It is interesting to mention that asparagus is very healthy, since it is made up of 90% water; it also has a lot of fiber and only provides 18 calories per 100 grams.
Surprise your guests with this healthy snack following the step by step of the asparagus wrapped in puff pastry. Appetizing and nutritious!
Tip: Asparagus contains vitamin C, magnesium, iron, potassium, antioxidants, and lots of fiber.
Red cabbage with apple and raisins
This rich vegetarian dish barely provides an estimated 181 calories per 100 grams of product, in addition, it meets several of the expectations that we generally have when we think of healthy starters for Christmas or light side dishes. First, because this salad combines with many types of protein (pork, beef, chicken, turkey, fish, or vegetable meats), and, second, because it has Christmas ingredients like apples, raisins, and pine nuts. It’s delicious!
Chicken Milanese stuffed with mushrooms
Chicken is a quality protein, as it has a high biological value; in addition, it is considered another of the white meats with less fat that exists, after turkey. In the kitchen it is a wonder because you can prepare it very easily and in a thousand different ways.
As they are light recipes for Christmas, we are left with this special preparation of chicken medallions made with spinach, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and a crunchy exterior of breadcrumbs. All baked! The caloric intake of this dish is valued at 270 calories per 100 grams of product. Prepare this delicacy by following each step of our healthy Christmas recipe for chicken Milanese’s stuffed with mushrooms. Healthy Christmas flavor!
Sugar free apple pie
Although it’s so appetizing appearance sends you a caloric alert signal, this dessert maintains its fairly conservative figure, estimated between 100 to 160 calories for each 100-gram serving of product, since it takes advantage of the natural sugars of the fruits. Of course, keep in mind that these values can vary, mainly due to two factors: the maturity of the chosen fruits (because the riper they are, the more sugar and calories they will contain) and the type of apple (there are varieties less sweet than others).
Complete your healthy menu for Christmas preparing this aromatic recipe. Sweetly light and Christmassy!
Baked Chicken Skewers with Vegetables
Everyone will love these healthy Christmas snacks, because they not only taste great, but are also low in fat and very low in calories, calculated between 90-154 calories per 100 grams.
These skewers also work as an appetizer, and making them is very easy, especially if you follow our step-by-step recipe for baked chicken and vegetable skewers. If you like it put roasted pepper hummus on the table for those who want to soak their skewers in sauce, or an avocado hummus. Everyone will be delighted!
Green Asparagus Cream
Asparagus cream is an exquisite and nutritious light starter that is why it could not be left out of this selection. Its caloric intake is calculated at 69 calories per 100 grams, of course without considering the ingredients to decorate it. Preparing it is very easy if you follow the steps for cream of green asparagus.
Do you want to decorate this dish without adding many calories? Choose between a roasted asparagus cut into small pieces, some strips of red pepper (roasted or cooked), some seeds (for example chia or flax), wheels of boiled egg, a drizzle of olive oil, natural Greek yogurt, or some fruit dry well crushed
Rice with salmon
This special rice is not only very nutritious and tasty, but it also takes calories away from your healthy menu for Christmas, as it only contains an estimated 146 calories per 100 grams. Pretty good for a main course! You can accompany it with a cream, broth or salad, for example avocado and arugula salad. A healthy delight!
Fruit Christmas tree
If it is a light meal for Christmas, fruit cannot be missing, and the best way to present them is through a beautiful fruit arrangement that also serves as a centerpiece, a particularly attractive one in the shape of a Christmas tree. Assembling it is very easy; you can do it with your children following the step by step of the fruit Christmas tree. Do you have doubts about how to keep this arrangement fresh? So, check out the following tips:
- Prepare the arrangement hours before lunch or dinner and refrigerate it.
- Buy very fresh fruit and in perfect condition. If you buy strawberries and apples, put them in the fridge.
- Avoid buying fruit too far in advance. Once at home, they will only last up to three days in perfect condition.
- Use resistant fruits, such as: grapes, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and others.
- If you use fruits that oxidize very quickly, soak them in lemon juice. Apply this technique on apple and banana, for example.
Tip: If the weather is too hot, it will speed up its deterioration.
Baked octopus with potatoes
This dish is sophisticated, healthy, and very simple to prepare. It’s a success when you think of healthy recipes for Christmas! Its caloric intake is around 190 calories per 100 grams. You can accompany it with a green salad to keep the numbers low. Prepare it by yourself.
