The typical American Christmas menus and recipes are usually heavy and fattening. For your Christmas menu 2010, why not try something a bit different that is much more healthful, but still allows you to maintain some of the traditions of the standard Christmas recipes.
APPETIZERS – Like many Christmas menus, Mediterranean menus include bread and salad at the beginning of the meal. However, instead of bread with butter or margarine, use a French baguette roll or a crostini rubbed with garlic and olive oil and topped with tomato slices, olives, feta cheese, basil and oregano.
Another option is to serve the bread with a spread or dip like a green olive and almond tapenade, which is a paste or dip made from black olives, capers, and anchovies or a hummus spread paired with fresh plum. For an easy Christmas diet non-bread option, make Greek salad skewers, which is a combination of cucumber, feta, olives and tomatoes or a vegetable try with sweat sour cream dip or yogurt dip.
SIDE DISHES – Some Christmas menu suggestions for side dishes include couscous mixed with vegetables like tomatoes, canned corn, carrots, green olives, green pepper and olive oil. Another option is roasted Mediterranean-style vegetables that include zucchini, peppers, eggplant and red onion drizzled with olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper. Instead of creamy mashed potatoes drenched in gravy, try Mediterranean roast potatoes, which are simply roasted potato wedges with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder and herbs.
PASTA – Pair whole grain pasta with meatless sauces using ingredients like vegetables, cheese or fish. A tasty Christmas menu suggestion would be shrimp, clams and pasta cooked in white wine and topped with garlic, onion, basil, olive oil and tomatoes. Another option is penne pasta with a creamy blue cheese and mushroom sauce.
MAIN DISH – Replace the traditional turkey or ham with roast leg of lamb, stuffed duck or game hen. A pork or fish dish would also be acceptable.
DESSERT – Try a biscotti, which is a twice-baked cookie that contains nuts or a orange-hazelnut olive oil cookies. Fruit drizzled with honey is another popular Mediterranean diet Christmas menu option.
The Mediterranean diet is widely considered very healthy and can also aid in preventing things like cancer and heart disease, as well as extended life expectancy. The main components include fresh ingredients from plant sources like fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes.
The Mediterranean diet also includes olive oil, potatoes and wine, as well as whole grains like bread, rice and pasta. The idea is to use fresh, natural ingredients that are simply prepared with herbs like oregano, basil, rosemary, lemon, garlic and mint. Small amounts of dairy products, typically in the form of cheese and yogurt, are included.
Fish, pork and poultry in the form of domestic fowl like chicken, turkey, geese and ducks, are also acceptable on a limited basis. Red meat is, for the most part, avoided. The Mediterranean diet is a nutrient-rich, high fiber diet that will fill you up and leave you satisfied.
