Salsa Lovers Only: 3 Recipes to Beat Holiday Bloat

Sampling all the dishes at family gatherings is what makes them so memorable — aside from quality time with all your favorite family members, of course. For those of us trying to keep things light this year, however, the holidays can provoke a little bit of anxiety

Holiday Food Coma Recovery: 3 Healthy Recipes for Salsa Lovers

If you’ve been putting extra focus on creating healthy eating habits all year long, you’re doing great! We think that you deserve to have the best of both words — food that both tastes good and makes you feel good. These healthy recipes are both scrumptious, and simple. Above all, they’ll keep you feeling light, fresh, and highly satisfied at your family celebrations this holiday season.

1. Chicken Tortilla Soup

Both straightforward and spicy, this healthy slow cooker recipe checks all the boxes. This indulgent, low-calorie comfort food will satisfy your taste buds without weighing you down.

To start, sauté some garlic and onion over medium heat in a skillet. When finished, simply throw it in a slow cooker over high heat with your choice of spices, steamed corn, shredded chicken, Sweet Kickin Salsa, tomato sauce, and low sodium chicken broth. Garnish with tortilla strips, jalapeños, shredded cheese, and sour cream. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

2. Southwest Lettuce Wraps

Tacos are not the answer — they’re the question. “Yes,” is the answer.

If you’re trying to eat a little lighter this year, you can still say “yes” to all your favorite cravings including tacos. All you need is a little improvisation. Carbs tend to fill us up faster and are sometimes difficult to digest. So why not just get rid of them altogether?

Instead of using a high-fat tortilla shell, substitute a large leaf of lettuce. Pile all your favorite taco toppings inside, along with some Sweet Kickin Salsa for added heat. Trying to eat less meat? Substitute black beans for your usual taco meat.

And just like that, you’ve indulged your taco cravings without the guilt — or the food baby. Who said you can’t have your tacos and eat them too?

3. Quinoa and Kale Southwest Salad

This salad has all of your favorite superfood trends in one dish. This southwest salad is nutrient-rich, refreshing, and perfect for pretty much any occasion. Oh yeah, and did we mention it’s extremely easy to make? That doesn’t hurt either.

Quinoa is a big hit when it comes to easy salad recipes, especially because you can prepare it ahead of time. This recipe is no different. This salad’s simple combination of healthy, palatable ingredients like fresh vegetables, beans, and avocado will give you the energy to finally finish – or start – your holiday shopping without feeling like you ate another Thanksgiving meal.

To bring this delectable salad to life, cook the quinoa beforehand, along with corn, if desired. When you are ready to make your salad, add beans, salsa, avocado, and a little taco seasoning to quinoa and finely chopped kale. Mix well and serve with lime juice dressing for extra-fresh flavor.

Minimal effort, maximum taste, and you only need one dish to get the job done. What could be better?

For more recipes, healthy or otherwise, head over to our recipes page.

Need salsa? We’ve got that too! Click here to visit our online store or here to find Sweet Kickin Salsa in a Kansas City store near you.