What will you prepare for your Christmas and New Year’s festive tables? In this article, you’ll find 40 options for a nutritious and delicious holiday feast!

Main Dishes for the Festive Table

There are plenty of options for healthy main dishes during the holidays. You can either enjoy traditional Greek classics, such as lamb roasted with potatoes, lemony beef with rice, pork cooked in a casserole, or meat pie, or choose lighter options like the ones listed below. Whichever you choose, remember to pair your meal with a salad.

1. Roast turkey stuffed with quinoa, cranberries, and almonds
2. Baked salmon with honey mustard sauce
3. Chicken fillet with yogurt and spices
4. Beef casserole with vegetables and rosemary
5. Grilled sea bass with herbs and olive oil
6. Baked chickpea patties with tahini sauce
7. Cabbage rolls stuffed with brown rice and raisins
8. Chicken tikka masala with yogurt and spices
9. Dolmadakia (vine leaves) stuffed with bulgur and fresh herbs
10. Stuffed mushrooms with spinach and anthotyro cheese

Side Dishes

When preparing your festive plate, aim for a balanced "Nutrition Plate": half the plate should consist of salad, a quarter of protein (e.g., lentils, turkey, beef, cheese), and the remaining quarter of carbohydrates (e.g., pasta, rice, bulgur). Here are some nutritious carbohydrate-based side dishes to try:

1. Mashed sweet potatoes with olive oil and nutmeg
2. Seasonal roasted vegetables (broccoli, carrots, asparagus, pumpkin, potatoes) with spices
3. Baby potatoes roasted with lemon and rosemary
4. Lentil salad with lemon dressing
5. Wild rice with turmeric and raisins
6. Whole-grain bulgur with vegetables and mint
7. Vegetable chips made from beetroot, carrot, and sweet potato
8. Quinoa with toasted almonds and dried fruits
9. Polenta with feta cheese and thyme
10. Oven-roasted chickpeas with paprika and garlic

Salads

Half of your "Nutrition Plate" should consist of salad or vegetables. If you finish your meal and still feel hungry, refill your plate with more salad. Here are some options for light and flavorful salads:

1. Salad with arugula, pomegranate, walnuts, parmesan shavings, and balsamic vinaigrette
2. Winter salad with sautéed cabbage, carrot, and tahini dressing
3. Green salad with spinach, avocado, and feta cheese
4. Beetroot salad with walnuts and yogurt
5. Quinoa salad with roasted vegetables and lemon dressing
6. Cretan dakos with barley rusk, fresh cheese, and capers
7. Salad with lettuce, apple, cranberries, arugula, spinach, blue cheese, and walnuts
8. Salad with boiled legumes (lentils or chickpeas) and fresh herbs
9. Fennel salad with pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, and orange slices
10. Mixed salad with arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, cashews, and balsamic dressing

Desserts

These dessert options offer the same satisfaction as traditional holiday treats for closing your festive meal. Of course, we don’t exclude the classics such as vasilopita, kourabiedes, melomakarona, and diples.

1. Chocolate mousse with avocado and cocoa
2. Fruit salad with yogurt and honey
3. Baked apples or quinces with cinnamon and nuts
4. Carrot cake with whole-grain flour and honey
5. Snowy energy balls with dates, walnuts, cocoa, and shredded coconut
6. Coconut milk cream with fresh fruits
7. Oat-based tart filled with yogurt and topped with fruits
8. Banana ice cream with peanut butter
9. Chia pudding with almond milk, berries, and 70% dark chocolate
10. Rice pudding made with brown rice, honey, and cinnamon

These healthy recipe ideas for your festive table can inspire some additions to your holiday menu. Regardless of what you choose to eat, remember to consume your food mindfully — savoring its taste, texture, and how it makes you feel (hunger and fullness).

For more details on how to enjoy a mindful festive meal, read my article on gazzetta.gr via this link: https://www.gazzetta.gr/plus/2287902/ena-syneidito-giortino-geyma