Holiday meals with a twist
The holidays are just around the corner and, like the rest of 2020, they will look a little different for most of us this year.
Travel restrictions and public health guidelines will leave many of us missing our loved ones this holiday season. If your celebrations will be smaller than usual, consider changing up your traditions and creating new ones.
Many holiday traditions start in the kitchen, so you may want to rethink your go-to festive feast and try cooking something new.
If you are preparing a meal for just a few people, scale back from a whole turkey dinner and try a turkey breast with cranberry stuffing. Or test out a new side dish you’ve been wanting to try. A casserole that combines all your vegetable sides in one can be prepared in advance and popped in the oven close to mealtime.
Overall, cooking for a small group means less prep time, less juggling to get everything on the table and fewer dishes to clean.
Holiday meals almost always mean leftovers, but reheating turkey, potatoes and veggies two or three days in a row can get old fast. If you overestimate the amount of food to prepare for your small gathering, try reinventing your leftovers into new meals for subsequent days.
My favourite leftovermakeover meal for the holidays is a breakfast skillet (a.k.a. hash), with extra potatoes and veggies to serve with eggs for a delicious, festive brunch.
Traditional desserts are a must have for many people, even if you will only have a few people at your table. Instead of baking a whole pie or cake, try making individual tarts. These mini desserts are easy to serve, portion controlled and whatever you don’t eat right away can go in the freezer for a quick treat after the holidays.
This year, to keep everyone safe and healthy, consider new ways to connect with your loved ones. Setting up a laptop or phone at the dining room table and enjoying your holiday meal with family and friends via video chat is a great way to share the holiday spirit from a distance.
You can also deliver gift baskets filled with homemade goodies to your loved ones’ doorsteps for them to enjoy.
Happy holidays from our dietitian team! If you are looking for advice for your holiday meal plans and recipes, we are here to help.