Lighten up for the holidays

When it comes to holiday gatherings, my sister takes the lead. She's the one with 3 children living in closest to my parents. I often escape with bringing very little to the table. This year the entire family is engaged in healthier habits we've all been adapting. So, instead of showing up empty handed (or with a dish laden with fat), I elected to put together a fruit salad for our breakfast/brunch. It's super-easy, travels well and refrigerates easily for multiple serving times.

The  holidays cannot be all casseroles, cakes and butter. At some point, your body craves vitamins. This salad not only offers a lighter option for the adults, but serves as the go-to dish for children in the mix. Little ones like this so much more than anything else on a typical holiday buffet. It works for a brunch side and as a dessert or salad at dinner.

SIMPLE FRUIT SALAD

1/2 pint blueberries
2 pineapples, cored and sliced into 1/4" chunks
1/2 lb seedless green or light red grapes
1 pint strawberries. Stemmed and sliced in half
2 Oranges
1 lime
1 lemon
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 tsp Sugar in the Raw (course)
1 6oz container vanilla greek yogurt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Put washed blueberries and grapes into a bowl with sliced strawberries and pineapple. In a different bowl, squeeze the juice from one orange, lime and 1/2 lemon & mix with half of the agave nectar and sugar. Toss this mixture with fruit. In another small bowl, whisk yogurt, extract, the juice from the second orange, 1/2 lemon and remaining agave nectar. Place the yogurt/juice blend in the center of a platter surrounded with the fruit salad. This keeps well for 2-3 days in the fridge. Double the recipe if you want a healthy snack on hand throughout Thanksgiving weekend. And, feel free to use whatever fruit you have on hand- -kiwi, a handful of leftover shredded coconut, apples, cherries... anything goes! 


What is your healthy alternative for the holiday season?  I would love more ideas, as Christmas family gatherings are almost here....