The holidays, while one of the most magical times of the year, can also be one of the most stressful when it comes to staying healthy.

One of my biggest tips to help alleviate this stress and feeling “out of control” is to simply contribute to the meal (check out my blog post with all of my tips here). By preparing a healthier alternative you’re ensuring that you have an option that helps you stay in line with your goals.

It sounds simple, but I know that with everything else going on this time of year, the thought of finding a recipe to suit your needs can be a little daunting.

That’s why I’ve done a round-up of my favorite healthy holiday recipes to help you out… enjoy!

Hi friends!

This is Andrea from Balancing Andie here guest posting for my friend Juliana!

First off, I should tell you a little bit more about me…

I’m a 20 something blogger from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I am a corporate professional during the day and a food/fitness fanatic by night. I have always loved to be in the kitchen and grew up with a lot of food allergies. As I got older, I couldn’t ignore my passion for health and nutrition any longer so in March 2017, I enrolled in a local 2-year diploma program here in Vancouver to become a Holistic Nutritionist. I really believe that health begins with the food we eat and the lifestyle we live and I want to help people become the best and healthiest versions of themselves. I recognize that health looks different on everyone and that’s why I think it’s so important to listen to your body and find what works for you.

On weekends, you can find me hiking, at the gym, hanging out with friends and most likely eating sushi (one of my favourite foods!!).

Because I live such an active life, I make sure that I either eat a protein rich meal right after my workout or have a smoothie with a protein powder or collagen in it to support proper muscle repair.

The first time I tried cooking chicken thighs over the stove, I became an instant convert. Not only is it super easy, but combined with the right flavours it is SO DELICIOUS! Since then, I’ve been experimenting with different sauces, and my most recent concoction has been my now famous pineapple chicken 🍍🍗.

My friends once came over after I had made this for dinner, and they were eating the leftovers out of the pan like savages 😂 (ok, I may or may not have also taken part in the feast). They’ve been begging me to post the recipe up ever since.