4 Healthy Christmas Recipes

Non-alcoholic mulled wine, a zesty prawn salad & more...

Certain times of the year are more difficult than others to stick to healthy eating – and Christmas is no exception!

Making small changes to your Christmas menu is a great way to enjoy your favourite seasonal dishes whilst still making healthy choices.

I’ve listed a collection of 4 healthy Christmas recipes below. They all contain a small number of ingredients, are easy to prepare and don’t compromise on taste.

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and happy Christmas!

Recipe #1 - Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine

This non-alcoholic mulled wine is full of the spices of Christmas and will fill your home with warm, sweet and spicy aromas.

Although this is a non-alcoholic drink, you can of course add some alcohol to it if you want. It pairs nicely with a splash of brandy or whisky. However, be sure to add the alcohol after the simmering is over or the alcohol will evaporate away.

Serves 8

Ingredients

8 cups apple juice

2 cinnamon sticks

10 whole cloves

1 orange, cut into wedges

1 thumb-size piece of ginger, cut into 6 pieces

Method

1. In a large saucepan combine the apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange and ginger and simmer the mixture for 20 minutes.

2. Strain the hot drink into a serving jug and pour it into glasses.

3. Serve each drink with a piece of orange and cinnamon stick.

Notes

If you prefer your drink a little sweeter, you can add some brown sugar or honey to the saucepan.

Recipe #2 - Prawn, Mango & Avocado Salad

Serves 2

This simple prawn, mango & avocado salad is a refreshing break from heavy Christmas food. It can be ready in 15 minutes.

The ingredients sit beautifully together on the plate – and on the tongue. The zesty citrus juice dressing helps make for a fresh and tasty light lunch or starter.

If you want to be more adventurous, you can serve the salad on lettuce cups.

Ingredients

400g cooked tiger prawns

1 mango, diced

1 large avocado (or 2 small), diced

Juice of lemon

Juice of lime

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Handful of greens (lettuce/parsley)

Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for prawn, mango & avocado salad

Method

1. Add mango, avocado, lime and lemon juice and olive oil to a bowl.

2. Roughly chop the prawns and add to the bowl.

3. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Mix the lettuce through and serve with lime wedges.

Recipe #3 - Roasted Cauliflower & Chickpeas

Serves 6

Cauliflower and chickpeas are simple, down-to-earth veg that roast well together.

In the oven, the cauliflower gets crisp and toasty and the chickpeas turn into nutty nuggets. In this recipe, I’ve only used salt, pepper & lemon juice for flavour.

If you want, you can spice up these simple foods with whatever herbs or spices you enjoy. The red peppers were added to give a little Christmas colour to the dish!

This dish can be served as a side, a mains or in a wrap with a little yogurt or salad dressing.

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower, cut into bite-size pieces

1 can 400g/14 oz. chickpeas; drained, rinsed & dried

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

2 Tbsps extra virgin olive oil

Handful of parsley, chopped

1 lemon

Salt and pepper

Raw veg ready for roasting

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.

2. Evenly spread out the cauliflower, chickpeas and red pepper on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

3. Brush the olive oil over the veg. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Roast the veg for 30-35 minutes, until golden. Stir at least once.

5. Sprinkle parsley on top and serve with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Roasted veg

Roasted cauliflower & chickpea wrap with Caesar salad dressing

Recipe #4 - ‘Crustless’ Spinach & Mushroom Quiche

This crustless quiche is incredibly quick and easy to assemble. It’s big on flavour, very filling and full of nutritious veg.

Serves 8

Ingredients

200g sliced mushrooms

1 large onion, thinly sliced

1 Tbsp garlic, minced

5 cups 150g/5.3 oz.) fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

4 large eggs

1 cup milk (plant or dairy)

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp fresh thyme or a tsp of dried thyme

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground pepper

 ½ cup grated cheese

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Brush the inside of a 9” dish with a little olive oil (See notes)

2. Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan. Add mushrooms and cook until golden for about 8 minutes.

3. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender – about 5 minutes.

4. Add spinach and cook until wilted – 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

5. Whisk eggs, milk, mustard, thyme, salt and pepper in a bowl and fold in the mushroom mixture.

6. Pour everything into the prepared pan.

7. Sprinkle grated cheese on top. Bake until set and golden brown for about 30 minutes.

Notes

I used a 1.5L casserole dish but a 9” (23 cm) round loose-bottomed flan tin is probably more common.

Enjoy!!

Disclaimer

This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. If you have any questions about your nutrition plan, please consult your doctor.