Low-Cholesterol Recipes For Happy, Healthy Holidays

The holiday season is in full swing, with family to visit, gifts to give and receive, and many a meal to enjoy with loved ones.

Typically, holiday meals favor hearty over healthy and wholesome, which might not bode well for your cholesterol levels. Sure, your next resolution is right around the corner, but why wait a week to make the right choice when you can enjoy low-cholesterol holiday meals now?

Yes, enjoy. There are plenty of tasty options that still allow you to eat well and prevent that cholesterol level from skyrocketing before the new year.

Appetizers

There are plenty of delicious appetizers that are low in cholesterol and can be made with relative ease.

– Hummus is always a tasty option for any gathering or everyday enjoyment. There are tons of different recipes, all yummy in different ways, but in addition to tasting great, hummus also has zero cholesterol, making it even more enjoyable. Try this recipe from Dave Lieberman, courtesy of Food Network.

– Finger foods are a great appetizer for any holiday gathering. Going potluck style? Why not bring these Pizzettes with Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese, and Prosciutto, courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis of Everyday Italian. They’re a bit more labor-intensive but sure to be a hit no matter where you take them. And clocking in at only 6 mg of cholesterol a piece, they’re delicious without being deadly.

Sides

– Quinoa may not be a close friend of the carb-conscious, but this grain packs more nutrition with it than most starches, including brown rice. And it brings no cholesterol to the party. Try this festive dish of quinoa and black beans from allrecipes.com.

– Although potatoes are a holiday staple, we decided to check into alternatives, like black-eyed peas. Both are cholesterol-free, but the legumes offer a bit more in the way of dietary fiber; they trade off in vitamin offerings, so pick one dependent on your needs. This slow cooker Spicy Black-Eyed Peas recipe might change your mind about which to choose and comes out to just 10 mg of cholesterol per serving.

Desserts

– Holiday cookies are always fun, but maybe you want to keep it simple this year? Try some delicious oatmeal raisin cookies from Food Network magazine.

– Up for a challenge? Giada De Laurentiis is back in our holiday recipe round-up with her Apricot and Nut Cookies with Amaretto Icing. Only 19 mg of cholesterol provided you can rein it in to one cookie. It’s okay to grab a few, you’ll be safe.

Do you have any favorite low-cholesterol holiday recipes?

Note: The above post is written from a research perspective on low-cholesterol recipes and has not been evaluated by a dietitian or other qualified professional.