Enjoy the holidays with a blend of traditional comfort foods and healthy, hearty options with this December 2020 Meal Plan.
The holidays are a time to get cozy and enjoy time together as a family. And for my family, that includes a whole lot of delicious food.
To be honest, not all of that food is the most “healthy” and that is totally ok! Eating isn’t just about ingesting good fuel for your body. It’s also about the experience of tasting and enjoying the food, as well as the company you get to enjoy it with.
So, yes, we will be making our favorite Christmas cookies along with some other “unhealthy” food. And we’re going to enjoy every single bite!
Balance between healthy & traditional food in the December 2020 Meal Plan
I’ll be setting some boundaries around those “unhealthy” foods for myself because while I genuinely enjoy them, my body does not. Grains of any sort as well as processed sugars cause gut issues which can flare up my chronic pain. So I won’t be making a ton of these foods. I’ll make enough for my whole family to enjoy once, and that’s it.
I also won’t overindulge – I’ll listen to my hunger and fullness cues. And I’ll plan to eat foods that tend to be more healing and soothing outside of our traditional meals.
It’s all about having a plan that works for me (and my family) that creates the best balance between health and tradition possible.
Check out my holiday series on the podcast for more ideas on how you can find your ideal balance between health and enjoying all the holidays have to offer:
- Episode 31: 4 Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Make Before the Holidays
- Episode 32: How to Continue Exercising in Winter When You Just Want to Stay Cozy
- Episode 33: How to Improve Your Fitness While Fully Enjoying the Holidays
What traditional foods does your family make for the holidays?
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The December 2020 Meal Plan
Week 1
Breakfast
Turkey and Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
Beans on Toast w/ Fruit
Cereal w/ Fruit
Lunch
Mac & Cheese w/ Fruit
Summer Sausage w/ Cheese & Fruit
Sandwiches
Leftovers
Dinner
Orange Chicken w/ Steamed Veggies & Rice
Marinated Steak w/ Roasted Potatoes & Carrots & Salad
Snacks
Fruit Snacks & Goldfish
Plantain Chips & Applesauce
Week 2
Breakfast
Turmeric Roasted Carrots and Beets with Apple Thyme Sausage
Oatmeal w/ Cinnamon Apples
Breakfast Burritos
Lunch
Annie’s Spaghetti O’s w/ Meatballs & Fruit
Sandwiches
Leftovers
Dinner
Vietnamese Easy Garlic Shrimp w/ Steamed Veggies & Rice
Latkes w/ Sausage & Bell Pepper Saute
Bacon Wrapped Chicken & Salad
Meatloaf w/ Roasted Potatoes & Salad
Snacks
Fruit Pouches & Sun Chips
Chips & Salsa & Guacamole
Week 3
Breakfast
Eggs, Hashbrowns & Sausage
Banana & Peanut Butter Toast
Smoothies
Lunch
Tomato Soup w/ Grilled Cheese
Lunchmeat w/ Cheese & Fruit
Sandwiches
Leftovers
Dinner
Marinated Pork Loin w/ Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Apple Walnut Salad
Mongolian Beef & Rice
Spaghetti & Meatballs w/ Salad
Snacks
Decorated Christmas Cookies & Milk
Week 4
Breakfast
Sourdough Pancakes w/ Bacon & Fruit
Paleo Pumpkin Bread w/ Sausage
Cereal & Fruit
Lunch
Macaroni & Cheese
Lunchmeat & Cheese Roll Ups w/ Fruit
Sandwiches
Leftovers
Dinner
Posole & Tamales – Our Traditional Christmas Eve Dinner! We can buy our tamales from our local grocery store which makes it way easier.
Chinese Takeout – For Christmas Day
Fish & Chips w/ Salad
Filipino Chicken Adobo w/ Potatoes & Carrots
Snacks
Pretzels & Pouches
Biscochitos & Hot Cocoa
Plantain Chips
S’mores
Week 5
Breakfast
Breakfast Scramble w/ Eggs, Potatoes, Sausage & Red Chile
Bagels & Cream Cheese w/ Fruit
Oatmeal & Fruit
Lunch
Sandwiches
Leftovers
Quesadillas w/ Fruit
Ham & Cheese & Fruit
Dinner
Baked BBQ Chicken w/ Cornbread & Salad
El Picadors (Our family’s version of nachos using Doritos, ground beef, olives and cheese)
Teriyaki Chicken w/ Steamed Veggies & Rice
Snacks
Pretzels & Fruit
Applesauce & Cheese Sticks
Chips & Salsa
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