It’s the time of year when your schedule starts filling up with holiday parties and your plate is piled high with Christmas cookies.
But peppermint bark and hot chocolate aren’t the only ways to celebrate the holiday season. Among the sweet treats and traditional dishes, leave some room for these festive salads filled to the brim with tasty seasonal veggies, tangy winter fruits, and refreshing herbs.
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These salads are loaded with fibrous fruits and vegetables that may otherwise be missing from your diet this time of year. Plus, their vibrant colors and fun flavors are guaranteed to brighten up any table spread.
Next time you’re headed to a holiday gathering, throw together one of these satisfying salads for a festive addition to your dinner.
Healthy Christmas Salads
Cranberry Walnut Salad
Short on time? Try this simple crowd-pleasing salad that takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. Mesclun greens and frisee, which are rich in folate and immunity-boosting vitamins A and C, are topped with apple slices, dried cranberries, and heart-healthy walnuts for an easy and nutrient-dense holiday salad. You’ll be using the three-ingredient apple cider vinegar dressing on many salads to come.
Farro Salad With Halloumi & Pomegranates
Protein-rich farro, fiber-packed acorn squash, and halloumi combine to create a hearty and satisfying salad. But it doesn’t stop there. Fresh raw ingredients like leafy greens, carrots, apples, and pomegranates are also added to create a seriously nutrient-dense salad, full of lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that have been shown to protect our eyes from within. Sweet and savory, hearty and fresh—this salad has it all.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Christmas Salad
Brussels sprouts fans rejoice. Shaved sprouts—rich in gut-friendly fiber—provide a crunchy, fresh base for this festive holiday salad from Green Kitchen Stories. With sweet oranges and pomegranates, this salad will definitely brighten up your holiday.
Herbed Green Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Say hello to your new favorite dressing. The star of this Minimalist Baker salad is a vibrant tangy cranberry vinaigrette that’s packed with cold-fighting vitamin C. Add candied pecans and fresh mint, and you pretty much have Christmas on a plate.
Herbed Kale Salad With Persimmon, Pomegranate and Maple-Cumin Dressing
Your favorite leafy green tastes better than ever in this antioxidant-rich salad from Bonjon Gourmet. Kale is massaged with a toasted cumin maple dressing, resulting in a tender and juicy green ready to be devoured. Persimmon provides sweetness and flavonoid antioxidants, which have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. Add a little parsley and festive mint, and you have a healthy winter dish everyone will love.
(Photos: Shutterstock and Nutritious Life)
