WHAT I EAT ON CHRISTMAS DAY – HEALTHY RECIPE IDEAS
WHAT I EAT ON CHRISTMAS DAY
What I eat in a day during the festive season
Hey you guys! I thought it would be fun to share with you “What I eat in a day” on Christmas Day (and share the recipes that I love to make and enjoy with my family around the festive season).
I try to eat healthier, so these recipes are on the healthier side too (which is great – especially around the holidays, when you want lots of energy to do fun things).
These recipes are 100% gluten, wheat, dairy and refined sugar free. They are also made from whole carbs, healthy fats and good protein. So they are “well balanced”, and are less processed than most holiday recipes (but are still tasty).
Watch the video below to see how I put all of these recipes together, and to see exactly what I eat in a day around the holiday season (and on Christmas Day).
I hope you love these recipes as much as I do!
LIEZL JAYNE XO
VIDEO: Watch me make these healthy Christmas recipes in my recent What I Eat On Christmas Day video (below)
CHRISTMAS CRANBERRY SMOOTHIE
The Ingredients:
-1/2 cup frozen cranberries
-1 medium banana (fresh or frozen)
-1/4 to 1/2 avocado (or 1/2 to 3/4 cup plain yogurt)
-1/2 cup *milk of choice/ water
-pinch ground vanilla powder/ vanilla extract (optional)
-pinch cinnamon
-1 to 2 teaspoons **100% pure maple syrup (or to taste)
-ice to taste/ as needed
(SERVES ONE)
*I use unsweetened almond milk (you can use any milk of choice), water is fine too, but won’t be quite as creamy
**can use any healthier sweetener of choice like pure maple syrup, xylitol syrup, etc.
The Method:
-Peel, slice & freeze the banana (if using frozen)
-Peel & pit the avocado
-Blend the banana, frozen cranberries, avocado, vanilla, cinnamon and water (or milk of choice) together until smooth
-Add pure maple syrup to taste
-Add ice to taste (to make it more chilled)
-serve fresh, drink and enjoy every sip!
ROAST CHRISTMAS DINNER
For lunch (or dinner) on Christmas day, my family usually has a big roast dinner with roasted chicken, crispy roasted potatoes, brown rice, gravy, and various vegetable dishes. Some of these recipes have been past down from my granny to my mother to me, so these are truly my family Christmas recipes!
I try to make these recipes a bit healthier – but the main features of the dinner are the apple, onion & thyme roasted chicken and the super crispy potatoes.
These recipes are all 100% gluten, wheat, dairy and refined sugar free – and it’s a well balanced meal with whole carbs, fibre, healthy fats and good protein.
(Here on the blog is the full Healthy apple, onion & thyme roasted chicken and gravy recipe – and here is the recipe for the healthy crispy roasted potatoes)
To go with the roasted chicken, gravy and the crispy roasted potatoes – we’ll have some brown rice and also some roasted vegetables. I have made more simple roasted vegetables here (recipes below) to go with the meal as a whole – but if you like something more flavorful for veggies, then try my sweet & spicy green veggies (a sure crowd pleaser).
*Just so you know – This kind of Christmas lunch is quite South African inspired (rice with gravy served with the chicken and potatoes is very South African).
SWEET & SPICY ROASTED CARROTS
The Ingredients:
-6 to 10 medium carrots (or as needed)
-1 teaspoon onion powder
-1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
-pinch paprika
-1 or 2 teaspoons *cooking oil
-1 or 2 Tablespoons *100% pure maple syrup
-Tiny squeeze fresh lemon juice
-Sea salt and black pepper
(SERVES 4 to 8 portions, roughly)
*I use macadamia oil, but you can use any healthier cooking oil
**Can use another healthier sweetener like xylitol syrup or honey
The Method:
-Preheat oven to 180 C/ 360 F
-Peel and slice carrots
-Mix carrots (on a baking tray) with all of the ingredients and toss
-Roast for 20-30 minutes (or until fully cooked, and starting to brown just a bit)
-Serve with dinner and other sides
ROASTED GREEN VEGGIES
The Ingredients:
-Brussels sprouts (400-600g, or as needed)
-Green beans (400-600g, or as needed)
-1 or 2 teaspoons *cooking oil
-Sea salt and black pepper
-Fresh lemon juice
(SERVES 4 to 8 portions, roughly)
*I use macadamia oil, but you can use any healthier cooking oil
The Method:
-Preheat oven to 180 C/ 360 F
-Rinse the vegetables
-Halve the Brussels sprouts and cut the ends off of the green beans
-Mix the veggies (on a baking tray) with all of the ingredients and toss
-Roast for 20-30 minutes (or until fully cooked, and starting to brown just a bit)
-Serve with dinner and other sides
MY HEALTHY CHRISTMAS APPLE PIE
This is one of my favorite Christmas desserts ever (that I’ve ever created), and to me nothing is more Christmassy than a big apple pie!
This is my healthy apple, pecan and raisin pie. I created this healthy pie recipe a few years ago, and it’s just one of my all time favorites (I make it every year for Christmas). I love having a slice fresh out the oven with healthy coconut cream (but it’s just as good served later at room temp).
This recipe is 100% gluten, wheat, dairy and refined sugar free. It’s also made from whole carbs, and it’s got some healthy fats and protein in there. So it’s more of a “well balanced” dessert, and it’s less processed than most dessert recipes.
(Here is the full apple pie recipe on the blog + the coconut cream recipe)
♥
SPICY CHAI CHRISTMAS TEA
The Ingredients:
-1 x chai tea (tea bag)
-Milk of choice (I use unsweetened almond milk)
-1 teaspoon of 100% pure maple syrup (or to taste)
-Tiny pinch cinnamon (optional)
(makes 1 cup of tea)
The Method:
-Add 1 chai tea (tea bag) to a cup/ mug with boiling water (leave room for milk)
-Add milk of choice as needed
-Add pure maple syrup (or another healthier sweetener) to taste
-Optionally add a tiny pinch of cinnamon
-Drink and enjoy Christmas in a cup!
FRESH CHERRY SNACK
When I was little, my aunt would always bring fresh cherries over on Christmas Day, that we would eat as a snack after dinner and dessert (in the late afternoon). So now I love to have my healthy cherry snack on Christmas day!
It’s really easy and delicious (and healthy), and all you need is some fresh cherries in a bowl!
VIDEO: Watch me make these healthy Christmas recipes in my recent What I Eat On Christmas Day video (below)
Photos, recipes and video by Liezl Jayne Strydom – for liezljayne.com
