A LITTLE LIGHT LUNCH

On the day of the big feast, here’s a light midday meal to keep you going while still leaving room for dinner—plus lower-alcohol offerings to serve alongside.

This light midday meal will keep you satisfied on Christmas day—alongside lower-alcohol products—leaving you plenty of room for dinner.

WITH JUICY, GRAVY-DRENCHED turkey, hot hors d’oeuvre pastries, creamy eggnog and potent mulled wine, holiday entertaining usually means decadence. But, eaten in abundance, these rich traditional dishes can lose their charm and we find ourselves seeking balance.

To the rescue: a light menu that’s fit for a Christmas Day lunch—and that also saves you precious time because it allows for some advance prep. Make Lemon-Grass Aïoli and Lobster-Crab Cakes the day before, then tuck them into the fridge. On the day of, roast grapes and top Camembert for an easy starter, then bake the prepared crab cakes while you toss together the refreshing salad. Sip on a palate-cleansing lowalcohol cocktail that doesn’t require you to pull out the shaker. And finish it all off with fresh-fruit-topped chia dessert (that you also made in advance) that will end the feast on an appropriately celebratory note—with zero worries about spoiling yourself for dinner.