Traditional Holiday Recipes -- Made Heart-Healthy
Enjoy your favorite foods (such as eggnog, cheesy potatoes, and stuffing) by making these versions that are lower in fat and calories.
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Some holiday staples come with plenty of baggage (in the form of fat, cholesterol, and sodium). Try our heart-smart substitutions instead. Each new holiday favorite is lighter than its standard version but tastes so good, we bet your family won't miss the original.
Read on for recipes featuring low-fat eggnog, low-sodium cheesy potatoes, low-calorie stuffing, low-fat pot roast, and low-calorie pecan pie bars.
BONUS: Save the eggnog for another meal and you can enjoy the two sides, the pot roast, and the pecan bars as a healthy holiday meal for just over 500 calories. Bon appetit!
BEFORE: Traditional Eggnog (8 ounces): 343 calories, 19 g fat, 150 mg cholesterol, 137 mg sodium
AFTER: Guilt-Free Eggnog (8 ounces): 195 calories, 3 g fat, 87 mg cholesterol, 11 mg sodium
The classic version of the favorite holiday drink promises to clog arteries and deal a powerful blow to any diet, thanks to its primary ingredients: full-fat milk, cream, and eggs. With a little alcohol mixed in, the calorie count rises even higher. Try our Guilt-Free Eggnog instead, featuring egg whites, low-fat milk, and zero cream.
BEFORE: Au Gratin Potatoes (1/2 cup): 162 calories, 10 g fat, 28 mg cholesterol, 530 mg sodium
AFTER: Cheesy Potatoes (1/2 cup): 129 calories, 3 g fat, 12 mg cholesterol, 235 mg sodium
The humble potato's nutritional benefits are drowned out by the butter and cream in the au gratin dish. Our Heart-Healthy Cheesy Potatoes use fat-free milk, light sour cream, and reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup.
BEFORE: Prime Rib (3 ounces): 305 calories, 25 g fat, 71 mg cholesterol, 54 mg sodium
AFTER: Pot Roast (3 ounces): 182 calories, 7 g fat, 67 mg cholesterol, 200 mg sodium
Prime rib contains 35-45 percent fat, the highest percentage of any cut. The same-size serving of our Herbed Port Pot Roast has about half the calories and a third of the fat. Note, though, that pot roast has more sodium to make up the flavor.
BEFORE: Traditional Bread Stuffing (1/2 cup): 249 calories, 16 g fat, 41 mg cholesterol, 457 mg sodium
AFTER: Wild Rice Stuffing (1/2 cup): 64 calories, 1 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 144 mg sodium
Whether it's made from bread or cornbread, this traditional turkey sidekick usually contains saturated fat from butter and sausage. When it's cooked inside the turkey, it absorbs additional fat from the bird. The fresh veggies and rice in our Wild Rice Stuffing will fill you up without filling you out.
BEFORE: Pecan Pie (per slice): 503 calories, 27 g fat, 106 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium
AFTER: Pecan Pie Bars (per bar): 150 calories, 9 g fat, 31 mg cholesterol, 76 mg sodium
Get the heart benefit and the crunch of pecans with less corn syrup and butter. You get the same traditional sweet taste but lots fewer calories and fat in the smaller bar than a large slice of pie.
