Holiday Meal Plan: 7 Healthy and Nutritious Family Meals

Christmas is the time of year when friends and family gather to celebrate and express their gratitude for all of the blessings they have experienced this year. Preparing a delicious meal for the day is customary. 

If you're feeling a little anxious about your holiday meal plans, we have put together 7 recipes that are both nutritious, easy to prepare and packed with flavours and an aromatic scent to boost your Christmas mood.

In this blog, we shall look at the top 7-holiday meal plan options for you and your loved ones.

Top 7 Nutritious Holiday Recipes

Chana Masala Wraps

Chana masala wraps are a delightful Christmas fusion of flavours and health benefits. This dish is packed with protein, fibre, and spices, that provide your body with sustained energy, aid in digestion, and satisfy your taste buds.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chickpeas
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 inch ginger, grated
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons ghee
• Fresh coriander leaves, chopped
• Whole wheat wraps
• Assorted veggies for filling (lettuce, cucumber, bell peppers)

How To Prepare  

1. Add chopped onions, garlic, ginger, and cumin seeds to hot ghee in a pan. Add the onions and sauté until golden brown.
2. You can now add the tomatoes, salt, turmeric, coriander powder, green chilli, and garam masala. Simmer until the tomatoes are tender.
3. Put in the chickpeas, cook for ten minutes, and then mash some of the peas to get a thicker consistency.
4. Place the veggies, chana masala, and fresh coriander on top of the warmed whole wheat wraps and roll them into a wrapper. Serve hot.

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Parathas

This dish is a great and delicious option for the holidays. The spinach enriches your body with vitamins and iron that promote bone health and immunity, and the added cheese spices up the flavour.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup finely chopped spinach
• 1/2 cup grated paneer
• 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• Salt to taste
• Ghee for cooking

How To Prepare  

1. Mix the whole wheat flour and water in a mixing bowl to form a soft, elastic dough. Let it rest for 15 minutes.
2. For the stuffing, combine chopped spinach, grated paneer, mozzarella cheese, onion, green chilli, cumin powder, garam masala, and salt in a separate bowl.
3. Form the dough into small balls and roll it out into a flat disc shape. Create a stuffed ball by sealing the edges after placing a spoonful of the stuffing in the centre.
4. Roll out the stuffed ball into a paratha.
5. Heat some ghee in a pan and cook the paratha until golden brown on both sides.
6. Serve hot with yoghurt or your favourite chutney. 

Nariyal Chawal Kheer

Nariyal Chawal Kheer is a traditional Indian rice pudding with coconut that offers a rich supply of nutrients. It contributes to providing energy, aids in digestion, and is a source of essential minerals, making it a worthwhile holiday food experience.

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 4 cups full-fat milk
• 1 cup grated coconut
• 1 cup jaggery, grated
• 1/2 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, and beans), finely chopped
• 1/4 cup cashews and almonds, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
• A pinch of saffron strands
• 2 tablespoons ghee

How To Prepare  

1. Rinse the basmati rice and cook it in milk until soft and mushy.
2. In a separate pan, heat ghee and sauté mixed vegetables until tender.
3. Add grated coconut to the rice-milk mixture and cook until the kheer thickens.
4. Stir in jaggery until it dissolves, adding a rich sweetness to the kheer.
5. Toss in the sautéed vegetables, cashews, almonds, cardamom powder, and saffron strands for flavour and texture.
6. Simmer until the Nariyal Chawal Kheer reaches a creamy consistency.
7. Serve warm, garnished with additional nuts.

Tofu Tikka masala

Tofu Tikka Masala is a great meal idea for the holidays as it provides your body with a rich source of plant-based protein. It's low in saturated fat and calories, which benefits your overall body's health.

Ingredients

• 1 block of tofu, diced
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes), diced
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons tikka masala spice blend
• 2 tablespoons Ghee
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 cup tomato puree
• 1 cup water
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

How To Prepare  

1. To make the marinade, combine yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, tikka masala spice blend, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and salt in a bowl.
2. After applying the marinade to the tofu cubes, let them sit for at least thirty minutes.
3. Vegetables can now be sautéed in hot ghee until they become slightly soft, then place them aside.
4. Cook the marinated tofu until golden brown in the same pan.
5. After adding the tomato puree and water, simmer the mixture until it thickens.
6. Add the sautéed vegetables and continue to simmer for a few minutes.
7. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or naan.

Kiwi Lassi Popsicles

The Kiwi lassi popsicle is a refreshing Indian Christmas snack. It is packed with the goodness of yoghurt and kiwi. These popsicles are not only delicious but also a source of probiotics and vitamin C.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe Kiwi
• 1 cup thick yoghurt
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
• A pinch of saffron strands
• 1/4 cup finely grated carrots
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint leaves

How To Prepare  

1. Smoothly blend saffron strands, cardamom powder, honey, thick yoghurt, and ripe kiwi. 
2. Add the chopped cucumber, grated carrots, and mint leaves to a bowl. 
3. With a little space left at the top, pour the kiwi lassi mixture into the popsicle moulds. 
4. Place the popsicle sticks in and freeze until solid, about 46 hours. 
5. When ready, simply remove the moulds by running them under warm water.

Eggless Rava Cake

Eggless Rava Cake combines the benefits of semolina and the lack of eggs to create a delicious, guilt-free treat. Packed with fibre, it facilitates better digestion, helps with weight control, and reduces cravings for sweets, making it a great addition to your holiday meal plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fine semolina (rava/sooji)
• 1 cup yoghurt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract,
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• A pinch of salt
• Chopped nuts for garnish (optional)

How to prepare

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a cake pan.
2. In a bowl, mix semolina, yoghurt, and sugar. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
3. Add oil, vanilla extract, and milk to the semolina mixture. Mix well.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until smooth.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, and allow the cake to cool before slicing.

Apple Pie

Apple pie is a blend of sweet and tart flavours and is the most sought-after recipe for the season during Christmas. This pie also offers dietary fibre and essential vitamins. It has a warm aroma,  which gets you in the mood for the holidays at hand.

Ingredients

• 4 cups thinly sliced apples (preferably a mix of sweet and tart varieties)
• 1 cup finely chopped mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, and corn)
• 1/2 cup jaggery
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons ghee
• 1 package of ready-made pie crust

How To Prepare  

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine sliced apples and mixed vegetables.
3. In a separate bowl, mix jaggery, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples and vegetables, ensuring an even coating.
4. Drizzle lemon juice over the mixture for a zesty kick.
5. In a pan, melt the ghee and sauté the apple-vegetable mixture until tender.
6. Roll out the pie crust and line a pie dish. Fill it with the apple-vegetable mixture.
7. Cover with another layer of pie crust, sealing the edges.
8. Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool slightly before serving.

Takeaway

There are tons of unhealthy options we would find ourselves munching on when we reach Christmas time, which is delicious, of course, but would not provide our bodies with the necessary nutrients they need for an even better celebration.

However, in this blog, we have discussed the most delicious and health-friendly options you can look at cooking up for the holidays. They are packed with nutrients and flavour, which is a Grade A option for your overall body health.

Visit Healthy Master for a wide range of healthy snack options.