Healthy Recipes: An Unforgettable New Year’s Eve Dinner Menu

Scrumptious food, tasty drinks, good friends, and great conversation—everything we need to  celebrate another calendar flip. Avoid the crowds and the cover charges this year and host a  NYE dinner party to ring in 2022! From appetizers to ambiance, this is how you get the party  started. 

Here are 7 tips for throwing an unforgettable NYE party at home. 

Plan a memorable menu. On second thought, let us take the menu planning off your plate. We’ve put together a delicious and nutritious New Year’s Eve dinner menu consisting of an appetizer, a dinner salad, side, an entrée, and a cocktail for toasting. Here are some additional menu planning tips to consider: 

Two days before: List and shop your ingredients. 

One day before: Decorate and set out dishes, linens, table settings, glassware, etc. 

Day of: Prep and chop as many ingredients before that doorbell rings. This way you have time to enjoy the party you’re hosting. *Do start the cooking a little earlier than you think you should, in order to keep dinner on schedule. 

Get festive. Suggest a dress code or make it a theme. A cozy pajama party, chic winter white attire, or Roaring 20’s are some fun ideas. Don’t forget the traditional confetti poppers, photo props, and tinsel toothpicks for food. 

Dance it out. Create a playlist of current songs and throwbacks that will encourage your guests to dance all night long. Dim the lights and rearrange the furniture to create a celebratory space with ample room for dancing so no one gets hurt if anyone should bust out The Worm. 

Provide an activity. Have a “New Year’s Resolution Jar” and encourage your guests to write down their goals for 2022. Share it for accountability, stash it to reflect on, or burn it and put it out into the Universe, if you’re into that sort of thing! 

Prepare dinner table topics. Spark up conversation by writing out some questions on a piece of paper, then cut them up and place them in a jar. Pass the jar around the dinner table and  have each person answer the question they pulled. Keep the questions open-ended so guests are able to elaborate on their answers. 

Be the host or hostess with the most. When it’s time for everyone to say goodbye, send them home with some delicious leftovers from the party. Plan ahead and purchase some extra to-go  containers for your friends and family to bring home. 

It’s all in the details. Ask your guests to e-mail you their favorite healthful recipe a few days in advance. Print them out and send your guests home with a list of new recipes to try in 2022.

Shrimp Appetizer 

This shrimp, avocado and cucumber appetizer is a delicious mouthful and packed with nutrients.  Shrimp is protein rich. Avocado contains fiber and beneficial fats that will keep you feeling fuller  longer. And cucumber contains important electrolytes and can help prevent dehydration—something we might need for post-NYE celebrations. 

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined 

1 Tbsp olive oil 

2 garlic cloves, finely minced 

1 tsp cilantro, finely chopped, plus more to garnish 

1/2 tsp paprika 

Dash of cayenne pepper 

1 avocado 

Juice of 1 lime 

1 English cucumber 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place minced garlic, cilantro, paprika, and  cayenne pepper into a small bowl and stir until well mixed. Pat the shrimp dry, then coat them  evenly with the seasoning mixture. 

Add shrimp to the skillet, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until pink and cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside. 

Mash the avocado and add the juice of 1 lime. Cut the cucumber into thin slices then add the  avocado mash and top with shrimp and additional cilantro for garnish.  

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING):

Calories 140

Protein 9  g

Total fat 9 g

Saturated fat 1.5 g

Cholesterol 70 mg

Carbs 6 g

Fiber 3 g

Total sugars 1 g

Added sugars 0 g

Sodium 320 mg

Wedge Salad 

Crunchy roasted chickpeas steal the show in this “anything but” classic wedge salad recipe! We  topped cool and crisp iceberg lettuce with a homemade ranch dressing, zesty diced radish, juicy  tomatoes, and punchy bites of chive. 

This mouthwatering dressing is made with Greek yogurt and provides a healthy dose of calcium and probiotics. The chickpeas are a great source of plant protein and can help keep your appetite under control. These are just a few nutritious highlights of this wholesome salad. 

INGREDIENTS: 

For the salad:   

1 (15oz) can chickpeas drained and rinsed 

1 tbsp olive oil 

1/2 tsp garlic powder 

1/2 tsp chile powder 

1/4 cup diced radish 

3 tbsp chopped chives 

1/2 cup chopped cherry tomatoes 

1 large head iceberg lettuce quartered 

Salt and pepper to taste 

For the yogurt ranch dressing:

1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt 

1 tsp Dijon 

1 tsp lemon juice 

1 tsp dried parsley 

1 tsp garlic powder 

1 tsp onion powder 

1 tbsp fresh chives 

Dash dried dill 

Dash pepper 

2 tbsp water, or to desired consistency 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Drain chickpeas and pat them dry with a paper towel.  Spread them in a single layer onto a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, garlic powder, and  chile powder then mix well to evenly coat. 

Place them into the oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, flip or shake the chickpeas once or twice, until desired crunchiness is achieved. 

Add the dressing ingredients to a blender and pulse until well combined. Add water to thin out  the dressing to your liking. 

Divide the lettuce wedges between plates and assemble remaining ingredients over top. Drizzle  the yogurt ranch dressing over the top of each wedge and enjoy!

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING, SALAD):

Calories 160

Protein 7 g

Total fat 5 g

Saturated fat 0.5 g

Cholesterol 0 mg

Carbs 24 g

Fiber 8 g

Total sugars 6  g

Added sugars 0 g

Sodium 30 mg  

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING, DRESSING):

Calories 25

Protein 3 g

Total fat 0 g

Saturated fat 0 g

Cholesterol 0 mg

Carbs 2 g

Fiber 0 g

Total sugars 1 g

Added sugars 0 g

Sodium 45 mg  

Hasselback Butternut Squash 

This butternut squash dish is worthy of any special occasion and will most definitely wow your guests! But what really wows us are the nutrients! Butternut squash is a rich source of  vitamins and minerals, making it valuable for your immune health, excellent for your eyes, and it  can also protect against free radical damage. 

INGREDIENTS:

1 small to medium butternut squash 

1 tbsp olive oil, reserved 

1 finely chopped shallot 

3 tbsp maple syrup 

1 tbsp + 1 tsp Dijon mustard 

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 

1 tsp freshly chopped thyme 

1 tsp freshly chopped sage 

1 tbsp water 

Salt and pepper to taste 

Optional: Chopped pecans, thyme and sage as garnish 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the squash in half, lengthwise, then remove the  seeds. Peel the squash until the bright orange flesh is revealed. Place the squash, cut side 

down, onto a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Drizzle 1 tsp olive oil over top then  place into oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until slightly tender. Let cool.

Put squash onto a cutting board and place a chopstick on each side to prevent your blade from  slicing all the way through. Using a sharp knife, cut thin slits evenly across the squash. Repeat  this process with the second half. 

Add remaining olive oil, shallot, maple syrup, Dijon, apple cider vinegar, thyme, sage, and water  into a small bowl and stir to combine. Add the two halves back onto the lined baking sheet. Coat  the squash and between the cuts with ½ of the maple Dijon seasoning. Add ¼ cup water to the  pan to help steam the squash, then return to the oven and bake for 30 minutes, coating the  squash one more time at the 15 minute mark. 

Once the squash is cooked through and tender, remove from oven and garnish with chopped pecans, sage, and thyme if desired.

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING):

Calories 220

Protein 3 g

Total fat 3.5 g

Saturated fat 0.5 g

Cholesterol 0 mg

Carbs 47 g

Fiber 6 g

Total sugars 17 g

Added sugars 9 g

Sodium 135 mg 

Lemon Thyme Chicken 

It’s time to put this lemon thyme chicken on the regular menu rotation! This dish is fresh, pretty, and healthy too! Chicken breast is a lean protein and can help build and maintain muscle mass.  Garlic wonderfully enhances the flavor of this recipe while also servicing our immune health!  Lemon and thyme are flavor complementary (making this dish SO delicious) and both high in  heart-healthy vitamin C. 

This recipe is made with common household ingredients in a one pan skillet, making it easy to throw together and even easier to clean up! 

INGREDIENTS:

4 boneless skinless chicken breast 

1 tsp. Salt 

1 tsp. Pepper 

¼ cup flour 

1 Tbsp butter 

3 garlic cloves 

2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, minced 

⅓ cup dry white wine 

¾ cup low sodium chicken broth 

Juice 1 lemon 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Pat chicken breast dry, then season both sides with salt and pepper. Place ¼ cup flour on a  plate and lightly coat each chicken breast, shaking off any additional flour.  

Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to the pan and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes per side until chicken is golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from heat, cover, and set aside. 

Add garlic and minced thyme leaves to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute. Add the wine and as it simmers, scrape up any crispy bits from the pan. Add chicken broth and lemon juice to  the skillet and stir until sauce begins to thicken. Spoon sauce over chicken breast and top with  fresh lemon slices and thyme for garnish. 

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING):

Calories 230

Protein 29 g

Total fat 6 g

Saturated fat 2.5  g

Cholesterol 95 mg

Carbs 9 g

Fiber 0  g

Total sugars 1 g

Added sugars 0  g

Sodium 650 mg

Orange & Pomegranate Kombucha Cocktail 

When the clock strikes midnight, everyone should have their drink to toast to the new year! This  cocktail looks fancy and tastes like elegance but thankfully you don’t need to be a skilled  mixologist to make this yummy and healthy(ish) concoction. 

Kombucha, filled with good yeast and friendly bacteria, benefits gut health and adds a fizzy zing to this prosecco cocktail. 

INGREDIENTS:

1 pint pomegranate kombucha 

750ml Prosecco 

3-4 oz. orange flavored vodka 

1/2 cup pomegranate seeds 

Orange slices for garnish 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add ingredients to a pitcher and give a gentle stir to combine. Divide the cocktail between  guests and garnish with orange slices. 

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING):

Calories 260

Protein 0  g

Total fat 0  g

Saturated fat 0 g

Cholesterol 0 mg

Carbs 14 g

Fiber 1 g

Total sugars 8 g

Added sugars 3 g

Sodium 10 mg

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING, FULL MENU):

Calories 1035

Protein 51 g

Total fat 9  g

Saturated fat 5 g

Cholesterol 165 mg

Carbs 102 g

Fiber 18 g

Total sugars 34 g

Added sugars 12 g

Sodium 1190  mg