Loving the BITE: Holiday Menu

Sometimes the Holiday season feels like nothing more than a blur of hustle and bustle.  And while we try to savor the moments, it can be tough to stop and enjoy it in the midst of a long to-do list. To make it a little easier on you this year, we’ve scoured the web for a compilation of intriguing and delicious whole-food Holiday recipes that may help you set your Christmas Dinner menu.  And, while they may not all be perfectly nutritious in every aspect, they are all great recipes that I will be happy to set on my table this year.  For a beautiful and flavorful feast, try this menu:

Loving the Bite Holiday Menu:

We’ve put together a wonderfully healthy menu for you to enjoy the best this season has to offer.  Each item on the menu links to the full recipe.

Apple Poblano Roast Turkey with Cranberry Relish from Cooking Light and Kalyns Kitchen, respectively.   Cooking Light has been a go-to for recipes for me for years.  And while this recipe contains quite a bit of sugar, it is mostly found in a brine that’s discarded.

Vegetarian: Stuffed Winter Squash as a vegetarian main-dish from Savvy Vegetarian, a great resource for vegetarian recipes and cooking techniques.

Kale Cranberry Salad from Elana’s Pantry.  This is one of many wonderful recipes you’ll find at Elana’s Pantry, one of my favorite gluten-free, whole-food food blogs.

Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”, also from Elana’s Pantry.  This site is so good, I had to double dip.

Green Beans with Hazelnuts & Lemon from Epicurious.

Dark Chocolate Pudding from Smitten Kitchen, a beautiful food blog great for sweets – surf this site at your own risk.

Champagne Pomegranate Cocktails from Cooking Light.

With the millions available online, why did we choose these recipes?  Quite simply, they are colorful, use a variety of fruits and vegetables, and don’t come from a can.  Instead, you’ll find whole cranberries, chilies, spices, and produce that are loaded with phytochemicals and antioxidants all wrapped up in beautiful dishes.

That’s the short version.  If you’d like to know the full story, click these links for chili peppers, winter squash, kale, cauliflower, pomegranates, and dark chocolate  and find out just how good they are for you.

Menu’s set.  Done and done.  With all this extra time, what’s a cyclist to do?  Grab your bike and hit the road, right?!?

Fuel Your Ride.  Nourish Your Body.  Merry Christmas.