Written by: Kirby Stanton, RDN, LDN

The holiday season is filled with traditions often centered around creating memories and sharing delicious food. From filling appetizer to decadent desserts, it can be easy to let fruits and vegetables slip from the plate.  Try these tips to feature fresh produce picks that will add color, flavor, and nutrients - with plenty of seasonal flavor. 

Serve Up Salad First

Salads are versatile, easy to prep ahead of time, and can add plenty of color to kick off any party.  

• Try featuring a base with a mixture of greens, like arugula and baby kale. 

• For toppings aim to add in season produce like sliced citrus fruit, pomegranate arils, pears, or even roasted toppings like Brussel sprouts or winter squash. 

• To infuse seasonal flavor, try roasting walnuts or pecans in warming spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. 

Try this Culinary Tours Blue Cheese and Roasted Pear Salad features sliced  Bosc pears, a seasonal fruit favorite, and savory Culinary Tours -bleu cheese crumbles.  

 

Roast Veggies to Transform Flavor 

We all know it’s important to eat our veggies. To tantalize the palette try featuring roasted vegetables. Roasted vegetables achieve a caramelization that leads to vegetables that are crisp on the outside while being tender on the inside with a sweetened flavor.

• When prepping roast vegetables prepare choices with similar cooking time together to avoid soggy or over cooked veggies.

• Roasting with aromatics like fennel, ginger, garlic, or herbs can infuse flavor. 

• Feature heart healthy, monounsaturated fatty acids from oils like olive oil to help achieve robust flavor and perfect roasted texture.

• Save time with holiday prep and try Oven Ready ShortCuts, which come prepped in convenient oven and grill ready roasting pans. 

Try this recipe for Roasted Root Vegetables perfect for the winter season, featuring seasonal root vegetables and fresh herbs. 

 

Feature Fruit for Dessert

Create a merry and bright fruit platter, an easy and beautiful dessert option. 

• Fruit platter can easily feature favorite seasonal desserts by layering small bites of favorites with a variety of fruit.

• To save time pick up a Food City fruit tray, an easy way to add more essential nutrients and fiber, with no prep required.   

• For dipping feature fruit dip or melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and add to the center of the platter.  

Try this quick recipe for Almond Butter & Yogurt Fruit Dip.