Think Holiday Cooking Means You Can't Eat Healthy ? Think Again

Holiday cooking doesn't mean you can't diet. Serve a holiday menu that pleases palates of all your guests and be good to your waistline too. Use these delicious, holiday foods for any guest from youngest to oldest.

Holiday Menu

Holiday Cooking with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

24 servings (2 Tablespoons each)

1 jar (7 oz) roasted red peppers, drained
1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (also known as Garbanzo), drained
1 can (15 oz) cannellini (white kidney beans), drained
¼ cup tahini (sesame paste)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients, except salt and pepper, in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Make ahead and served chilled or at room temperature with baked chips and relish plate.

*Calories 61
*Total fat 2 g (less than 1 g saturated fat)
*Carbohydrates 9 g
*Protein 2 g
*Dietary fiber 2 g

Relish and Cheese Plate Holiday Foods

A plate of raw vegetables is healthy and fills guests. Use hummus dip and/or a low-fat salad dressing such as Ranch. Prepare vegetables ahead of time and keep in ice water in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Add both cheddar and string cheese sticks.

String cheese is high protein, low fat and low carbohydrates. Kraft offers string cheese made from milk from cows not treated with Growth Hormones. Put more string cheese than cheddar cheese on plate.

1 serving string cheese:

*Calories: 70
*Total fat 4.5 g (0 g trans fat)
*Protein 8 g
*Carbohydrate 1 g

Boiled Shrimp Holiday Dinner

Serve boiled shrimp with shrimp sauce for a low-fat dish. Leave shells on shrimp and allow guests to peel them. This slows consumption so there is no over-eating. Cook shrimp or purchase from a reputable meat market.

1 pound boiled shrimp:

*Calories 165
*Calories From Fat 15
*Total Fat 1.5 g (Saturated Fat 0.3 g)
*Cholesterol 160 mg
*Sodium 700 mg
*Carbohydrate 20 g (Dietary Fiber 3 g, Sugars 12 g)
*Protein 20 g

Holiday Menu includes Low Fat Shrimp Cocktail Sauce

½ cup chili sauce or catsup
2 tablespoons horseradish
¼ teaspoon agave syrup (or honey)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 drops Tabasco
½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 garlic cloves, finely minced

In small bowl, mix ingredients together to taste, cover and chill.
Makes 2/3 cup.

Place sauce in martini glasses or large serving bowl. Place shrimp around rim with tails out. Add lemon slices around plate the glass or bowl is on. May add parsley spring to sauce.

Include Tofu Chicken Wings in a Holiday Dinner

Tofu products can be substituted or added for the holiday menu. Tofu Buffalo Chicken Wings are pretty good from health food stores for a holiday dinner.

Watch for upcoming article: Lose-Weight, Holiday Decadent Chocolate Cake That's Too Good To Be True

Click here for party punch and party drinks for themed parties

Source:
(Adapted) "The New American Plate Cookbook," American Institute of Cancer Research
American Diabetes Association

Think Holiday Cooking Means You Can't Eat Healthy ? Think Again copyright 2009