Food plays a major role in many big holiday gatherings, and finding an adequate balance between healthy snacks and sugary treats can be an important step in planning a holiday menu that all your guests can enjoy. You and many of your guests may have a general preference for healthy recipes, but that does not necessarily mean that a December with no Christmas cookies or pumpkin pie is on anyone's mind. At the same time, various health preferences and needs may mean that serving only foods that are high in fat, sugar, and calories as you may have in the past is no longer the best option for making everyone feel welcome. Here are three helpful tips for creating a menu that considers both healthy treats and favorite sweets!
Keep Your Guests' Favorites in Mind
Some of your guests' favorite sweet treats have likely been family or local traditions for decades, which means that avoiding them altogether in favor of only healthy snacks will likely disappoint several of your guests. Even if you and the majority of your guests are embracing a healthier lifestyle and more interested in healthier foods this year, including a few old favorites in the midst of a healthier menu is a great way to balance the nostalgia of past holidays and a more modern pivot toward experimenting with recipes that are both healthy and tasty.
Consider Your Guests' Health Needs
Although many people enjoy indulging in treats throughout the holiday season, it is important to keep in mind that this simply may not be an option for all your guests. Considering specific known health needs in advance allows you to plan specific menu items that everyone can enjoy, such as snacks that are low in sugar or calories or work well for guests with other dietary restrictions. Not every item on your menu necessarily needs to meet every dietary need, especially if your guests are bringing dozens of snacks to a large holiday celebration, but it is a good idea to be intentional about making sure that everyone can enjoy at least some of what your table has to offer.
Plan Separate Events for Various Snacking Preferences
Serving different types of snacks at different times can also work well if the people in your life have a mix of dietary preferences. For example, you can host a cookie decorating party with all the sugary goodness your guests can handle the week before Christmas for those that want to attend and stick to mostly healthy recipes for Christmas dinner to make sure that everyone feels included during your most important celebration. You could also take the opposite approach and host a holiday party that focuses mainly on healthier snacks earlier in December and only have your sugary favorites available close to Christmas so that guests who want to indulge can do so for just a few days instead of the entire holiday season.
At Senior Helpers of Richmond West, we know that balancing health and fun is the key to a memorable holiday season for many seniors in the Richmond, Midlothian, Petersburg, and Glen Allen areas and their families. Contact Senior Helpers of Richmond West today to learn more about how choosing us to provide a variety of types of assistance can help make the holiday season go more smoothly for your entire family!