5 Diet Holiday Recipes

If you're watching your weight through the holiday season, this is a great time to consider our 5 diet holiday recipes. Between Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, there are dozens of excuses for overindulging in the coming months. However, these low calorie holiday recipes are simply delicious and healthy to boot! Each diet recipe is a variation on a traditional holiday dish.

Roast Turkey

Ingredients:

• 1 whole 14-pound fresh turkey
• 1 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
• Apple pecan stuffing (see recipe)
• 2 tsp. olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roast for approximately three hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 170 degrees.  
2. Remove giblets, wash turkey with cold water and pat dry. Rub salt and pepper into the skin of the turkey, both inside and out.
3. Stuff turkey cavity with apple pecan stuffing. Tuck wings back and truss the bird.
4. Transfer turkey to a roasting pan. Rub the skin of the turkey with the olive oil. Baste turkey every twenty minutes in its own juices. Allow to rest twenty minutes before carving. Remove stuffing prior to carving.

Apple Pecan Stuffing

Ingredients:

• 4 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 4 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped
• 1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
• 2 tsp. fresh sage, chopped
• 1 tsp. Kosher salt
• 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
• 5 cups whole wheat bread crumbs
• 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup chicken broth

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté onions and celery for ten minutes.  Add apples, thyme, sage, salt and pepper and sauté for another five minutes.
2. Transfer mixture to bowl and stir in bread crumbs, pecans, parsley and chicken broth. Blend well. Stuff turkey cavity with stuffing prior to cooking or cover with foil and cook in two-quart casserole dish at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Roast Asparagus

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. fresh asparagus
• 1-1/2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp. white vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cook for ten minutes.
2. Wash asparagus and trim one to two inches from base of the stalk. Arrange on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle asparagus with salt and pepper.
3. Fork test. Asparagus will be just tender. Toss with vinegar prior to serving.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 6 large sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp. light brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Place quartered sweet potatoes in a pot of cold water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Fork test to see if sweet potatoes are cooked through; they should be tender. Drain. 
2. Using a potato masher, mash sweet potatoes. Add butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, mixing thoroughly.

Holiday Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh whole cranberries
• 1 whole lemon
• 1/2 cup white sugar

Directions:

1. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice. Discard pulp and seeds. Wash cranberries, discarding any stems or bad berries.
2. Combine cranberries, sugar and lemon juice in a blender and mix until finely pureed. 
3. Press through a strainer to remove excess juice prior to serving.