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Weight loss at Christmas? Yeah, right! On the average, we gain 1.3 pounds over Christmas break. Not much, but it can take over 1-3 months to lose that weight. Yikes! So I searched for ways not to gain that unwanted weight.

I found some healthy alternatives to the traditional Christmas Day breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts that the whole family will love. These alternatives include pancakes, sliders, full ham and sides dinner, and great desserts for adults and kids.

Breakfast: Blueberry Pancake Casserole

Ok, my household loves pancakes. Standing over the stove flipping pancakes early Christmas morning is not my favorite thing. So, I don’t. I found a sweet and fluffy, Blueberry Pancake Casserole-the tastiest breakfast casserole you’ll ever eat! It’s filled with fresh fruits, beautiful cinnamon flavor and HEALTHY, all natural ingredients. + It’s refined sugar-free and made with whole grains.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole grain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk (make it with 1 cup of milk with 1 tbl of lemon juice and let sit for 2 minutes)
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh blueberries (add your family’s favorite fruits)

To Prepare:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Line a sheet pan (about 10″ x 10″) with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix all the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, and buttermilk.
• Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix just until combined.
• Pour the pancake batter into the prepared sheet pan and even the batter out. Top with blueberries.
• Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until slightly risen and cooked through.

A perfect dish that the whole family will enjoy! Adults you can also While watching the kids play with their Christmas gifts, adults can add this amazing non-dairy coffee companion (french vanilla) that helps control cravings, boosts the metabolism, and supports body composition goals. This is my favorite part of Christmas morning.

Lunch: Cuban Sliders

Next, a nice easy lunch with Cuban Sliders. These wonderful little rolls are baked until lightly toasted and the cheese melts. If your family is like mine and have some picky eaters, you can substitute any of the ingredients inside the sliders with their favorites. Also, you can leave the onion and mustard off on half of them and just use the butter for little ones that may not like those items.

Ingredients:

• 2 packages (12 ounces each) Hawaiian sweet rolls
• 1-1/4 pounds thinly sliced deli ham or turkey
• 9 slices Swiss cheese (about 6 ounces) or any other cheese works well
• 24 dill pickle slices
• TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

To Prepare:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Without separating rolls, cut each package of rolls in half horizontally; arrange bottom halves in a greased 13×9-in. baking pan. Layer with ham or turkey, cheese and pickles; replace top halves of rolls.
• In a microwave, melt butter; stir in onion and mustard. Drizzle over rolls. Bake, covered, 10 minutes. Uncover; bake until golden brown and heated through, 5-10 minutes longer.

The leftover King’s Hawaiian ham sliders keep really well in the fridge, and they make a lovely cold snack.

Dinner: Marmalade-Horseradish Rosemary Glazed Ham and Sides

Finally, a healthy Christmas Dinner for all that includes ham and two sides. First, start with the ham glaze- orange marmalade, whole-grain mustard, and horseradish with fresh rosemary. It’s a perfect main dish for a holiday gathering or family reunion. Instead of the typical green bean casserole try Tuscan-Style Roasted Asparagus that is so easy and so good for you. Next side, a new twist on your typical mashed potatoes. Last, adults enjoy a fine wine with your meal. To make it easy, just get it delivered to your door like I do each month.

Marmalade-Horseradish Rosemary Glazed Ham

Ingredients:

• 1 (2.3kg to 2.7kg) cooked, smoked bone-in ham
• 3 cups water
• ⅔ cup orange marmalade
• 2 tbsp packed brown sugar
• 2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
• 1 to 2 tbsp prepared horseradish
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary or 1 tbsp dried rosemary
• Fresh rosemary sprigs, optional
• Orange wedges, optional

To Prepare:

Place ham, cut side down, on a flat rack in a roasting pan.

• Preheat the oven to 162°C.
• Score ham in a diamond pattern by making shallow diagonal cuts at 3/4″ intervals.
• Place ham, cut side down, on a flat rack in a roasting pan.
• Pour the water into the bottom of the roasting pan around the ham. Tent ham with foil. Roast for 1 hour.
• For glaze, combine marmalade, brown sugar, mustard, horseradish and chopped or dried rosemary in a small saucepan.
• Cook and stir over medium-low heat until marmalade melts. Set aside.
• After the ham has roasted for 1 hour, brush with the glaze.
• Roast uncovered for 30 to 60 minutes more, brushing ham with glaze every 15 minutes.
• Let stand for 15 minutes before carving. If desired, garnish a serving platter with rosemary sprigs and orange wedges.

Tuscan-Style Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
• 1-1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts other nuts can work
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

To Prepare:

• Preheat the oven to 400°. Place the asparagus, tomatoes and pine nuts on a foil-lined baking pan.
• Mix 2 tablespoons oil, garlic, salt and pepper; add to asparagus and toss to coat.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or just until asparagus is tender.

Place on a serving dish and drizzle with remaining oil and the lemon juice; sprinkle with cheese and lemon zest. Toss to combine.

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower and Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cauliflower trimmed and cut into florets (about 4 cups)
• 2 medium potatoes Yukon or Russet, chopped
• 4 tablespoon butter unsalted or salted
• 2 medium garlic cloves minced
• ½ teaspoon vegetable stock powder
• ¼ cup – ½ cup milk I used oat milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

To Prepare:

• Cut the larger florets in quarter-all about the same size. Cut potatoes smaller in size than florets so they cook evenly.
• Cook for 8-10 minutes until soft.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tbls of butter and add garlic. About 1/2 minute.
• Melt in the remaining butter, add milk, vegetable stock powder, with salt. Simmer on low 5 minutes.
• Drain vegetables well. (this will also help to avoid watery texture).
• Transfer vegetables to a food processor or a mix in a large bowl.
• Add milk mixture gradually and blend until the vegetables turn smooth.
• Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Place into a serving bowl, drizzle with melted butter or oil. Garnish with parsley.

Desserts for Adults and Kids

These desserts for adults and kids are fun, easy, and most important healthy. For the adults, create a festive fruit platter. The kids will love making these fruit kabobs in the shape of Santa heads and Grinches.

Festive Fruit Platter

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of blueberries
• 2 cups of grapes, black
• 2 Oranges
• 4 oz pomegranate seeds
• 1/2 cup of raspberries
• 1 handful rosemary, sprigs
• 3/4 cup strawberries, halves
• 1/2 Watermelon, mini
• 3 Kiwis – peeled and sliced into half

To Prepare:

• Wash fruit, as necessary, and dry
• Cut fruit up to arrange. (See Picture)
• Arrange fruit and have Christmas picks available for guests to get their desired fruit.

Christmas Fruit Kabobs

Are you looking for a fun Christmas dessert to make with kids? They’re so cute – you won’t want to eat them.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup green grapes
• 1 cup of strawberries
• 3 bananas
• 1/4 cup mini-marshmallows.
• 1/4 cup M&M mini-candies (RED)
• Candy Eyes

To Prepare:

• Wash fruit, as necessary, and dry
• Cut fruit up to arrange. (See Picture)
• Arrange fruit on wooden bamboo sticks.

Okay, yes, I know – marshmallows, candy eyes and M&Ms aren’t that healthy, but it is Christmas. and they are kids.

In Conclusion

Go ahead and enjoy your traditional Christmas day. Yet, instead of gaining weight and feeling bad add a twist to your beloved menu items. In the morning, have a little extra boost in your morning coffee by adding a delicious french-vanilla plôs  SNAP. In the evening, sit back and enjoy your Christmas meal with family and friends with a fine wine.

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