This week is Christmas, a holiday our family looks forward to all year-long. It means we have a family feast planned, but not much by way of a regular menu. You may be in similar shoes, or you may be traveling for the holidays which makes meal planning an even bigger challenge.
To keep up with all the wrapping, planning, and Elf watching we’ll be doing this week without spending too much on meals I am sharing what we typically cook up on the evenings leading up to Christmas.
The main things to keep in mind are to keep it simple, and try to stick to healthy foods because the holidays usually mean a bit of indulgence.
If you’re traveling make a menu from what’s leftover in the fridge or eat out the pantry for the days you’ll be home.
Looking for more ideas and ways to plan your menus? You can find free printables including a year-long menu plan, grocery list and more on the Centsible Printables page.
What to Eat the Week of Christmas
Taco night: This is simple, quick, and it can be healthy with the addition of loads of veggies, fresh guacamole, and of course my favorite low-calorie topping, salsa, which adds spice, flavor, and loads of vitamins!
Recipe: Chicken tacos, easy guacamole.
Baked fish: Baked fish is a great way to eat light and healthy. Paired with rice and steamed veggies or a fresh salad this can be a filling meal without a lot of fat.
Pasta with veggies {gluten-free or regular}: Carbing up for a morning of unwrapping gifts? Why not?! Stick to a small serving of pasta and add several huge servings of veggies on top or on the side, loads of tomato sauce, and serve it with a big green salad.
Brinner: Breakfast for dinner is easy, quick, and you can give it a healthy spin with oatmeal, omelettes, and of course fresh fruit.
Recipe: Pancakes!
Sandwiches: While they may not be entirely healthy you can make them light and healthier with whole wheat bread (or whole grain gluten-free bread for my GF readers), low-calorie toppings like mustard, and be sure to load up your sandwiches with veggies like lettuce or spinach, cucumbers or tomatoes.
Tip: Get hydroponic tomatoes for fresh flavor all winter long.
Go Meatless: Skip the meat and make a simple one pot meal like veggie chili or soup.
Recipe: Coconut soup.
Looking for ideas for Christmas? I shared a ton of great holiday recipes from sponsor GIANT Food Stores including some amazing dessert ideas! Read them all here.
What do you eat the week of holidays? Are you traveling this week?
Kelly
[…] It’s the week of Christmas, and I can NOT wait!!! I love this time of year even if I may be up late on Christmas Eve helping Santa. ? You can check out our December menu plan for this week below or try my post on what to eat the week of Christmas. […]