Font Size

Holiday & Seasonal Recipes

Celebrate the Seasons and Holidays with Healthy Meals

Naughty List of Holiday Foods Slideshow

Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat Slideshow

Whatever the season, you can lighten your favorite foods.

By Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD/LD
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic - Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Tradition demands that we honor our family, culture, heritage, and country with celebrations throughout the year. Each season and holiday has its traditional favorite foods -- and they're usually high in calories and fat. After all, what would the Fourth of July be without a backyard barbeque? And Thanksgiving just wouldn't be same without turkey, dressing, and sweet potatoes.

The key to enjoying these foods while eating healthfully is to give a new twist to your old favorites. Our experts share lighter versions of their favorite family recipes, as well as cooking techniques to help you prepare delightful holiday foods without all the extra calories.

You can also take advantage of nature's bounty with healthful recipes that feature foods in season. Summer brings fresh berries, melons, tomatoes, and many other fruits and vegetables. Fall gives us cranberries, pumpkins, beans, squash, and crisp apples. Winter is a time to enjoy soups, stews, and slow-cooked meals that fill the house with enticing aromas. In spring, we savor lettuce, artichokes, asparagus, new potatoes, and more.

You'll find that it's not only possible, but easy, to make changes to your time-honored recipes to keep traditions alive while eating lighter and healthier.

Holiday & Seasonal Recipes:

Originally published February 2006.
Updated November 2007.

Holiday & Seasonal Recipes

Celebrate the Seasons and Holidays with Healthy Meals

Healthy Cooking

From WebMD

Recipes and Cooking Resources

Featured Centers

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

Latest Nutrition, Food & Recipes News