I love having a house full of people and try to stay stocked with some healthy options for any impromptu hosting or just munching on between holiday gatherings. Being prepared is one of the most important healthy habits that can really make a difference during the holiday season. Here are 10 things I make sure to stock up on before the kids get out of school and all the family and friends start showing up.
1 - Honeycrisp Apples & Clementines - these double as healthy snacks and pretty decor. I love to leave a bowl of apples and clementines on the counter for anyone to grab throughout the day. The Honey Bear brand of apples are a small size (Trader Joe’s also has a bag of small honeycrisp), perfect for kids or a quick snack and look so cute next to the Cuties.
2. - Veggie Tray Components - you don’t have to be high maintenance about this one, any chopped veggies (or just a pre-assembled tray) will do - and I like to keep both ranch dressing and hummus in the fridge to create a simple veggie tray to snack on while dinner is cooking or to put out when someone drops by.
3 - Holiday Candle - maybe not exactly a grocery store staple (unless you consider Amazon a grocery store…which I pretty much do) but nonetheless, one of my essentials. Even if my house isn’t spotless - and let’s be real…3 kids means it never is - I can light a holiday candle and feel great about some guests walking through the door. Plus, having a festive scent going around always puts everyone in a happy mood.
4 - Sparkling Water - for sipping, for sharing, or for creating festive cocktails - it’s just a must.
5 - Mixed Nuts - perfect for a quick snack in between meals or parties or to put out in a bowl for guests (maybe beside the vegetable tray and a block of cheese?). With the mixture of fat and protein, a handful of nuts can go the distance when you’re trying to make it through just one more family gathering.
6 - Rolled Oats - if you have overnight guests (or kids), rolled oats are perfect for making an assortment of make-ahead breakfast options like muffins, overnight oats or your favorite baked oatmeal.
7 - Health Box Mixes - I love to keep a couple boxed mixes on hand for when you need a quick dessert or want your house to smell like fresh baked pumpkin bread (or maybe that’s just me…). I know I’ve shared these before but some of my favorite brands for this are Simple Mills, Kodiak Cakes, and Immaculate Baking.
I want to be clear here - boxed mixes like these (and any health dessert, baked good, etc. you make at home or by by in a store) are still desserts/baked goods so we treat them at such. My recommendation for these comes from the ingredients panel having high quality ingredients you know, not from the nutrition profile of the food itself. That being said, who wants to skip dessert during the holidays? No one. So opt for making it from scratch or using a mix (or store bought) with high quality ingredients your body recognizes.
8 - Epsom Salt - while not a food item, an epsom salt bath is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of festivities. Epsom salts can help with digestion or bloating if you’ve over indulged, soothe aching muscles from a long day in the kitchen, and a lavender scented variety will set you up for a good night’s sleep - so you can hop up and do it all over again the next day :)
9 - Red Wine & Dark Chocolate - I always keep several bottles of red wine and bars of high quality dark chocolate around during the holidays. Both are perfect for if you have adults guests still milling around after the kids have gone to bed or an old friends pops over - just put out a simple plate with some squares of chocolate and pour a glass of wine, both to be enjoyed by the fire…I’m feeling happy and cozy just thinking about it - plus each will give you (and your guests) an extra dose of some antioxidants.
10 - Supplements - I like to make sure everything stays on track even if my eating habits shift a little bit over the holidays - I stay stocked with my probiotic for good gut health, fish oil to fight inflammation, as well as the supplements we take for immune health as the germs go flying around - you can read more about the immune boosting supplements we use here.
Cheers to happy and healthy holidays!
