A Vegetarian Christmas Dinner

Tradition says that the centerpiece at a Christmas dinner is the turkey. For vegetarians, a turkey just won’t do. If you are vegetarians or have vegetarian friends attending your Christmas dinner, here are some ideas for vegetarian dishes to add to the menu.

There are different types of vegetarianism. You have traditional vegetarians who do not eat any meat or meat byproducts and then those who eat some dairy or seafood. Keep that in mind when cooking for them at Christmas dinner.

Add a few extra vegetable dishes, but watch the ingredients. Many people season their vegetables with some sort of meat. Forego that tradition this year and try some different spices to flavor the side dishes. Garlic is a good addition for asparagus and green beans.

Usually when a vegetarian is attending dinner, everyone brings a green bean casserole. While it is a good side dish, it isn’t a meal if five or six people bring a green bean casserole. Where is the variety? Other vegetables are great for Christmas dinner. How about a potato and corn chowder or a sweet potato casserole?

When it comes to the main course, you can still have turkey. If the vegetarians that you know eat seafood, add a pecan crusted salmon to the menu. It provides lots of protein and flavor. Salmon goes with green vegetables and any other side dishes you choose to bring.

Pasta is a dish that can be enjoyed by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Fettuccine Alfredo can be prepared using canned sauce. Have shrimp and diced chicken on the side so dinner guests can choose what they want to add to their pasta.

The point is not to make the vegetarian guest feel out of place at your Christmas dinner. Add menu items that everyone will enjoy but are also appropriate for any vegetarians in the group.

If the meal is a vegetarian gathering, fashion a turkey breast out of seasoned tofu to keep with tradition. Pair with cornbread stuffing and meatless gravy for added flavor. Tofu has the distinction of taking on the flavor of whatever it is cooked or prepared with.

Desserts are usually easier to manage. Remember to use soy milk in recipes that call for milk or try non-dairy recipes like a gelatin mold, cookies, or brownies. Another idea is to ask a few guests to supply the desserts for the Christmas dinner. Ask all guests to prepare desserts that don’t contain dairy or meat products.

Vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas help you prepare a feast that is friendly to those who don’t eat meat. While they understand that some people will be eating meat, be sure to provide them with good foods to choose from as well.

Healthy Christmas Dinner Suggestions

The hardest time to stick to a diet is around the holidays. Everyone wants to sample the desserts and filling foods on the dinner table. This Christmas, choose healthier menu items for your Christmas dinner.

It is not uncommon for people to gain a few pounds during Christmas. After a week of eating every scrumptious thing in sight, it’s a wonder anyone can move. This Christmas, you can help yourself and your family by slimming down traditional recipes.

Adapting Christmas recipes to healthier versions doesn’t mean that they have to taste bland. On the contrary, these dinner recipes can be full of flavor. It is fat we are trying to avoid.

Simple changes are the easiest and best to make. Some simple substitutions involve the most fattening ingredients. For example, use liquid oil and applesauce in place of liquid oil alone. Use margarine in place of butter and sugar substitutes instead of pure sugar. Many recipes have suggestions for healthy substitutions.

We eat too much and our portion sizes are out of control. Making simple substitutions lowers the fat content of our Christmas dinner dishes even if we eat a bit too much. For home made recipes, substitutions will go on feel and experience.

When making gravy for the turkey, begin with a can or jar of fat free turkey gravy. Add the turkey drippings from the baking pan to the fat free gravy. Season the food to taste. For thicker gravy, add some chicken broth and a few instant potato flakes to the drippings before adding it to the fat free gravy.

Mashed potatoes are a favorite Christmas dinner side dish to complement turkey and gravy. When making the potatoes, substitute half of the potatoes with cauliflower. Mash both together well.

Serve a soup and salad before putting the main courses on the table. A low fat vegetable soup like tomato and a simple green salad fills part of the stomach and everyone will eat less later on. Make available an assortment of low fat salad dressings for the salad.

Even the Christmas dinner turkey can slim down. Instead of preparing an entire twenty pound turkey, opt for a turkey breast instead. To maintain tenderness and moistness, marinade the thawed turkey breast before cooking. Remove any skin before serving.

One place we often fill up on empty calories is beverages. Instead of soda, serve punch sweetened with sugar substitute like Splenda®. Ice tea can also be sweetened with sugar substitute and lemons. Flavored waters are another option.

Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be fattening to be delicious. With a few healthy tweaks, many won’t notice the difference. This year, expand your repertoire of healthy Christmas dinner choices instead of expanding the waistline.