Let's face it: few of us diet over Christmas (although a lot of us feel the need to after the holidays—weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions!).
Good food is a focal point for many celebrations, of course, but Christmas is one of those times when food really comes to the forefront. The extravagance of Christmas food has been well established since the Middle Ages when feudal lords hosted meals for their serfs and retainers.
Nowadays, the big Christmas dinner is central to Christmas Day for many families—turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, plum pudding, and dad snoring in the family room afterward with his belt loosened.
An Alternative to the Traditional Christmas Dinner
If you are tired of slaving in the kitchen on Christmas Day, consider this alternative to the traditional Christmas dinner: prepare an array of snacks, such as cookies, cheeses, dumplings, and whatever else suits your taste to set out smorgasbord style. Refill the trays as needed. As your guests arrive, you can then spend more time entertaining and less time in the kitchen. That certainly makes for a Merrier Christmas!
Here are the Traditional Christmas Food Alternatives:
Christmas CookiesWhile the traditional Christmas dinner is only enjoyed on Christmas Day, Christmas cookies are a type of Christmas food that promotes the festive spirit throughout the holiday season. Ginger snaps, sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, chocolate chip, oatmeal, fudge, peanut butter…the possibilities for Christmas cookie flavors seems endless!
Likewise, Christmas cookies can be used in a number of ways. Above being yummy snacks, they can also be Christmas gifts, ornaments, and decorations. Whether they inspire nostalgia or creativity, Christmas cookies keep the Christmas spirit strong each holiday season.
Heart Healthy Christmas
The extravagance associated with the traditional Christmas dinner excites some but presents a challenge for others. Those with heart conditions may not be so thrilled to face tempting high-fat, high–cholesterol foods.
However, substituting certain side dishes with lightly dressed vegetables or fruit can help you on your way to making a heart healthy Christmas dinner. Light exercise before or after eating may also be the good way to compensate for some of the more lavish Christmas food that you can't do without!
Christmas food for Diabetics
Diabetes is another health concern that can make the traditional Christmas dinner problematic. The sugar in cookies, desserts, and even side dishes makes Christmas for diabetics a trying time. Like those looking to have a heart healthy Christmas, diabetics can use various food and sugar substitutions.
Using the sugar-free and reduced calorie versions of food products whenever possible is key to creating an enjoyable Christmas dinner for diabetics.
Christmas Drinks
While Christmas food is a major part of the holiday celebration, no festivity can be complete without the presence of Christmas drinks. Eggnog, hot mulled cider, and peppermint flavored hot chocolate are mainstays of the Christmas tradition.
Submit a Christmas Recipe
The traditional Christmas dinner usually engenders images of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Yet, Christmas food leaves itself open to interesting variations that can spice up Christmas dinner. Share some of your favorite recipes with us and others in this section.
This section is divided into multiple articles covering:
- Christmas Cookies
- Heart Healthy Christmas
- Christmas for Diabetics
- Christmas Drinks
- Cookie Swaps
- Submit a Christmas Recipe.
Traditional Christmas Food Alternatives
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