Us Mosses celebrate it all: Christmas, Chanukah, Festivus (a Seinfeld reference for those who may unfamiliar with this glorious holiday).

From the coconut-milk eggnog my hubby deliciously makes each year, the crispy potato latkes my mom fries up for Chanukah, the holiday cookies I’m baking with 7-yo son, to the prime rib dinner we’re making for Christmas Eve, there’s no shortage of holiday meals for me to partake in.

All of this to say, I don’t hide out in a “health bubble” during the holidays: I am right out there with you, navigating the trays of cookies and potato pancakes and cups of nog like a champ.

But truthfully, “healthy holiday meal” doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. Sure, you may be surrounded by those cookies, cakes and cocktails (and sure, you may partake in one….or three…) but that doesn’t mean you can’t take control and create a delicious, nutritious, and seasonal meal for that will win over skeptical family and friends.

These are some of my top tips for creating a healthier holiday table this year:

• Don’t fight your instincts. It’s natural for our bodies to crave warm, rich foods during the winter months. Go with your cravings and try making hearty, healthy, and warming soups and strews. Chicken soup is one of my family’s favorites. Curried red lentil soup is another. For Christmas Eve dinner, we’ll be making a grass-fed prime rib roast. Meats are naturally warming and hearty – great for winter! – and by opting for organic, pastured meat, you not only satisfy your protein cravings in a healthier way but you’ll also get a dose of heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids. Complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes are another hearty healthy holiday choice that actually help curb our sweet tooth (more on that in a bit!). They’re great both savory and sweet. Try sweet potatoes sprinkled with chopped, toasted walnuts and dried cranberries or topped with sautéed wild mushrooms. Speaking of mushrooms, they’re nutritionally amazing for you (cancer fighters! immune boosters!) so I’ll be serving up a side of sautéed wild mushrooms along with our holiday meal this year.

• Return to your roots. Ever notice that when you eat a really salty meal or snack, you immediately crave something sweet afterward? That’s your body’s natural way of trying to balance things out. Adding “sweet” vegetables to your meal – such as winter squash or root veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips – not only tastes great but helps reduce our post-meal sugar cravings.

• Go Green. Dark, leafy greens are nutritional powerhouses. Packed with micronutrients and phyto-chemicals, greens can improve circulation (great if you’re prone to cold hands and toes during the winter, like me!), purify our blood, and strengthen our immune system. Kale and collards are relatively cheap and easy to make for a large crowd, and they’re delicious long into the winter months. For our dinner, I’ll be serving the rib roast and sweet potatoes with one of my favorite winter salads that contains escarole, oak leaf lettuce, and fennel with an incredible apple cider dressing. (I make that dressing all year long. It’s that good.)

• Indulge a little! The winter holidays come but once a year. Feeling deprived can make you feel cranky, depressed, and set you up for bingeing later on. If you just can’t live without your Aunt Minna’s triple chocolate mousse trifle, by all means, treat yourself to a small bowl and savor it slowly, intensely, and with as much pleasure as possible – no guilt allowed! Another great option is to bring your own healthy (but delicious) holiday treats. I’m a huge fan of this chocolate pudding pie for dessert. It happens to be dairy-free and gluten-free, but I don’t think anyone will notice that it’s “healthy” when it tastes this good!!

Happy everything to you and your family!

Xoxo,

Andrea and the Moss Wellness team