Healthy Holiday Recipes to Support Your Wellness Goals

The holiday season is a time for celebrating with family and friends. Often this means enjoying delicious food. But you don’t have to sacrifice your health goals to indulge in festive flavors! At Iowa Weight Loss Specialists, we’ve gathered a selection of healthy holiday recipes perfect for your next gathering. These dishes are packed with flavor and essential nutrients, so you can enjoy the season without compromising your weight loss journey. From savory appetizers to sweet treats, these recipes will help you stay on track while enjoying every moment of the holidays.

BLT Deviled Eggs Recipe

Courtesy of Bariatric Eating

Ingredients:  

• 1 dozen large eggs  
• 8 slices bacon  
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt  
• ¼ cup mayonnaise  
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard  
• 1 tsp lemon juice  
• ½ tsp fine sea salt  
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper  
• 1 shallot, minced  
• 12 grape tomatoes, cut into quarters, or 1 medium ripe Roma tomato, cut into small cubes  
• A few medium romaine lettuce leaves, halved and very thinly sliced 

Preparation: 

1. Put eggs in a medium pot, cover with water by 1 inch, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, remove from heat, and leave undisturbed for 12 minutes. Drain, fill with cool water, add ice, and set aside until chilled, about 5 minutes. Peel and cut eggs in half transferring whites to a platter and yolks to a large bowl. 
2. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Coarsely chop when cool enough to handle. 
3. Combine the cooked yolks, yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and shallot – mash with a fork until well combined and smooth. 
4. Just before serving, fold in the tomato and half of the bacon. Put a few shreds of lettuce into each egg and add a dollop of yolk mixture into the middle. Garnish with a little more of the bacon. 

Lemon-Dill Green Beans Recipe

Courtesy of Eating Well

4 servings, about 1 cup each

Ingredients:  

• 1 pound green beans, trimmed  
• 4 tsp chopped fresh dill  
• 1 tbsp minced shallot  
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil  
• 1 tbsp lemon juice  
• 1 tsp whole-grain mustard  
• ¼ tsp salt  
• ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper 

Preparation: 

1. Bring an inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Add green beans, cover, and cook until tender-crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. 
2. Meanwhile, whisk dill, shallot, oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add the green beans and toss to coat. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving to blend flavors.

Rolled Boneless Turkey Breast with Sage & Apple Recipe

Courtesy of Bariatric Eating

Ingredients:

• One 2 ½ to 3-pound boneless turkey breast half, butterflied (have a butcher remove the bones and butterfly – ask him for some butcher string!)  
• Olive oil  
• 1 tsp Bell’s Seasoning, or your favorite prepared poultry blend  
• ½ tsp garlic powder  
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper  
• 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced  
• 1 medium onion, peeled and very thinly sliced  
• 1 tbsp butter  
• ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley, optional  
• 1 cup chicken broth 

Preparation: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. With the skin side down, lightly coat the meat with olive oil, then sprinkle generously with Bell’s Seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. 
3. Sauté half of the apples and onions in butter in a nonstick skillet until softened, 3-4 minutes – season with salt and pepper. Add parsley. 
4. Spoon apple onion mixture down the center of the seasoned flattened turkey and fold up both sides, so the filling is encased in the center of the meat. Tie with cotton kitchen string in several places. 
5. Create a bed of remaining apples and onions in a roasting pan and place the roast seam side down. 
6. Lightly drizzle the turkey with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 
7. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the meat reads 165°F, about 1 hour. 
8. Remove the roast from the pan to a platter. 
9. Mash the onion and apple into the pan juices using a fork, adding enough chicken broth to scrape up the bits, creating a moist and delicious sauce for the sliced turkey.

Pumpkin Cheesecake (Zero Sugar Added) Recipe

Courtesy of Bariatric Eating

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 1 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup 'The Ginger Man Crystalized Ginger Slices', at Amazon, Whole Foods, or specialty markets - if you don't have this, leave out completely
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (this is necessary unless you want oily, sub-par crust)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

For the Filling

• Four, 8-ounce packages of Philadelphia cream cheese, at room temperature (NOT fat-free)
• 1/2 cup Trivia or Splenda Brown Sugar Blend for Baking
• 1/2 cup Splenda, granulated
• 1 cup solid pack of pure Libby's pumpkin (not pie filling)
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 4 large eggs

Preparation: 

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. In a food processor, pulse together the pecans, crystallized ginger, almond flour, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon until even in texture with no large pecan pieces - add the butter and pulse a few times until the mixture resembles damp sand.
2. Firmly press into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan and set aside.
3. Wipe out the food processor - no need to wash. Pulse the Splenda brown and Splenda granular with the cream cheese until very smooth.
4. Add the pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and cornstarch blend until well combined.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition.
6. Pour into crust and bake until puffed and set around edges but still a bit soft near the center - 50 to 60 minutes.
7. Cool to room temperature - then chill before serving.

Enjoy the Holidays Guilt-Free with These Healthy Recipes

This holiday season there’s no need to choose between health and indulgence. With these tasty, nutritious recipes, you can treat yourself and your guests to delicious meals that support your wellness goals. Whether you're looking for a light appetizer, a hearty main dish, or a guilt-free dessert, these recipes provide it all. At Iowa Weight Loss Specialists, we believe healthy eating can still be festive, fun, and flavorful. Happy holidays, and enjoy these nourishing dishes as part of your celebration!

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