Healthy holiday meals under 500 calories

Worried about buying bigger pants when planning your New Year's menu? Don't wait until you've accumulated the extra calories: choose holiday dishes with no more than 500 calories.

Mulled cider wine

Instead of sipping on spirits, warm up with a glass of hot cider. It's packed with vitamin C and inflammation-fighting spices, and it only has 120 calories per serving.

Recipe: Mulled cider wine

Cream of butternut squash soup

Winter squash adds a silky smoothness to this soup without the added cream. This smooth, antioxidant-rich soup contains only 120 calories per serving. Serve it as a healthy entree for any holiday table.

Recipe: Cream of butternut squash soup

Spicy Jicama Salad with Citrus Dressing and Pomegranate

Holiday menus often lack a generous amount of fruits and vegetables, but they can be used to reduce the calorie content of dishes. This colorful salad will be the perfect start to a vibrant holiday meal.

Recipe: Spicy Jicama Salad with Citrus Dressing and Pomegranate

White Bean and Kale Dip

Enjoy crudités in a new way with this flavorful protein dip. It's another way to add more vegetables to your holiday menu.

Recipe: White Bean and Kale Dip

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Feta

Make this elegant dish for those on a gluten-free or vegetarian diet. Unlike most grains, quinoa is high in protein, which helps keep you feeling full.

Recipe: Quinoa Tabbouleh with Feta

Gratin with ham and vegetables

A holiday menu should include a one-pot dish that everyone will love. This recipe requires just a few common ingredients from the freezer and pantry, and it's a great way to use up leftover ham. While rich in flavor, each serving contains less than 400 calories.

Recipe: Gratin with ham and vegetables

Roasted turkey breast with herbs and wine

Cooking for a small group? Bake a turkey breast to save time and effort. This recipe serves eight, plus there's some leftover meat for soup and sandwiches.

Recipe: Oven-baked turkey breast with herbs

Mediterranean-style grilled fish

Surprise your guests with a festive main course. This whole fish, flavored with citrus, herbs, and a zesty dressing, contains less than 475 calories per serving. Prepare the fish ahead of time and keep it refrigerated; quickly grill it, and it's ready to serve.

Recipe: Grilled whole Mediterranean fish with sherry tarragon vinaigrette

Ginger cake with raspberry sauce

Complete your holiday menu with a healthy dessert without sacrificing flavor. This light sponge cake is infused with Christmas spices and topped with red berry sauce, and each slice is only 325 calories.

Recipe: Ginger cake with raspberry sauce

Fruit salad with limoncello liqueur

A touch of lemon liqueur is enough to transform this fruit salad into a holiday dessert. It's a light yet delicious way to finish off a meal; each serving contains just over 250 calories.

Recipe: Fruit salad with limoncello liqueur