Posted on December 10, 2014 by Jenny Cromack

Healthy Christmas Nibbles

It’s the time of year for work Christmas parties and family gatherings, so how can you save your diet and still have your share of the festive nibbles?

Here are some recipes for healthy Christmas nibbles so you can still enjoy your Christmas fuddles!

Healthy Guacamole

Kcal 263 Protein3g, Carbs 4g, Fat 26g Sat 3g

Serves 4

Ingredients 

• small bunch coriander, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbsp jalapeño peppers from a jar, drained and finely chopped
• juice 2 limes, or to taste
• 4 avocados

Method

1. In a medium bowl, mix the coriander, garlic and jalapeños with the lime juice. Peel, stone and roughly mash the avocados with a potato masher, add them to the bowl with the other ingredients and some seasoning

Red Pepper and Tomato Salsa

Kcal 31 Protein 1g, Carbs 3g, Fat 1g Sat 0g

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 100g cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 fat green chilli, deseeded and chopped
• 200g roasted red peppers
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

Method
Tip the tomatoes, garlic and chilli into a food processor with the peppers, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pulse to make a rough purée. Turn into a small bowl, cover with cling film and chill until ready to serve.

For both the above recipes use vegetable batons such as carrots, cucumber, celery.

Roast vegetable crisps

Prep time:25mins

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

• 2 parsnips
• 2 beetroot
• 2 sweet potatoes
• 2 tbsp plive oil
• ½ tsp chilli powder, (optional)
• freshly ground salt and black pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6.
2. Peel all the vegetables. slice them diagonally into wafer-thin crisps. Spread out on paper towel to remove excess moisture.
3. Tip all the vegetables into a bowl. Pour over the oil, then add chilli powder, if using, and seasoning. Toss with your hands to coat evenly.
5. Arrange in a single layer on a baking tray. Roast on the lowest shelf in the oven for 20 minutes, turning half way through. Keep and eye on them as they may not need the full time – they are ready when the parsnips and sweet potato are golden brown.
6. Spread out on paper towel until cool and crisp.

Sweet & Spicy Nuts

Kcal 449, Protein 12g, Carbs 11g, fat 40g, Sat 6g

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp mixed spice
• 400g mixed nuts, try almonds, Brazil nuts and cashews
• 2 tbsp honey

1. Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Mix the oil with the spices, then stir in the nuts and drizzle over half the honey. Spread over a baking sheet and cook for 10 mins.
2. Remove from the oven and drizzle over the remaining honey, then return to the oven and cook for a further 10 mins. Allow to cool completely.

Although it’s Christmas time and these are healthy nibble options, remember moderation is key as over eating on any of these can effect your fitness goals. Making healthy choices over the Christmas period will allow you to enjoy the festivities without having to deal with the consequences of the arrival of January and the effects of Christmas overeating.