With another Holiday and another wonderful meal just around the corner, you may be thinking about the foods that will grace your table.  To make it a little easier on you again this year, I’ve scoured the web and Loving The Bite for a compilation of intriguing and delicious whole-food Holiday recipes that may help you set your Christmas Dinner menu.  These selections are based on whole, nourishing foods, but not “diet” foods.  The intention is to lose the convenience, the chemicals, and the junk-ingredients found in processed foods and enjoy the nourishing options from whole, slow, foods.  Here’s what I found:

Loving the Bite Holiday Menu 2012:

Roasted Cornish Game Hens with Pumpkin Seed Pesto from The Food Network.  Although a little more involved than my ordinary recipe picks, this extra-ordinary main dish is flavorful and well worth the effort.  When using the Food Network, it’s important to read through ingredients for whole-food based ones, and skip those that are heavy in refined sugars or starches.

Vegetarian Main Dish: Quinoa Salad with Toasted Almonds from MarthaStewart.com.  The recipes found at this site are often whole-food-based and delicious, but watch out for hard-to-find ingredients and long prep times. Also, even if going vegetarian, check out the Pumpkin Seed Pesto from the Cornish Hen recipe.  Pairs well with this quinoa salad as well.

Roasted Beet Winter Salad from Cooking Light.  Cooking Light is one of my favorite go-to sites for recipes and always comes through with delicious dishes.

Basil Cauliflower Soup from Loving the Bike.  Quite simply, you won’t be disappointed with this soup.  It’s refreshing, beautiful, and satisfying.

Healthy Mashed Sweet Potatoes from World’s Healthiest Foods.  This site is one of the best there is on specific nutrient information of whole foods, including the best ways to prepare the foods while preserving as many nutrients as possible.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts from Food Network.

Maple Honey Pumpkin Pie with a Pecan Crust from the Nourishing Gourmet and Oceans of Joy.  Nourishing Gourmet is a great site for traditional, whole, nourishing foods.  Why not combine two of the best pies, pumpkin and pecan?

Antioxidant Chai Latte from Loving the Bike.

Just like last year, these dishes are colorful, use a variety of vegetables, nuts, and spices, and don’t come from a can. Instead, you’ll find fresh beets, Brussel sprouts, basil and cauliflower.  The ingredients are loaded with phytochemicals and antioxidants to keep your body nourished, even while enjoying wonderfully rich Holiday foods.

Menu’s set. Done and done. You can also check out our 6 Tips for Avoiding the Holiday Pounds and accompanying post-Holiday smoothies if you’d like.  This year, we wish a nutritious, active, peaceful, and wonderful Holiday for you and yours.  And, of course, maybe a new bike, or at least a wheel set, under the tree.

Fuel Your Christmas.  Fuel Your Ride.  Nourish Your Body.

Photo c/o Celebrations at Home Blog