By contributing writer, Faith Watson

Raise your hand if you have ever been guilty of overindulging on food during the holidays. Raise your hand if you have more than ten Pinterest recipes to try (and most are desserts) for your holiday parties or gatherings. Raise your hand if you plan on starting a healthier eating plan…but not until the New Year.

This post is not about a guilt trip. This is about celebrating the holidays and enjoying delicious food that you can feel good about making, eating, and sharing!

This collection of fermented foods and drinks can help you add a little life to your party…in the form of living probiotics and cultures!

Appetizers

Ginger or Garlic Spiced Carrots

Add some kick to your veggie tray with ginger spiced lacto-fermented carrot sticks. This recipe link has two variations, garlic or ginger, and both are addictively delicious!

Fermented Cranberry-Apple Chutney + Kefir Cream Cheese dip

This is by far my favorite fermented snack, and it tastes so delicious that even those not accustomed to fermented foods won’t even notice it’s fermented! Paired with crackers or chunks of bread, this appetizer will disappear quickly. You can boost the probiotic value by making your own kefir cream cheese, or just use a block of store-bought cream cheese with the chutney spread decoratively over the top.

Christmas Kraut

Flavors of the season – apple, cranberry, and orange – make this sauerkraut almost dessert-like, with enough tang and spice to pair well with any part of the meal or between-meal snacking.

Bread

Sourdough Cinnamon Monkey Bread

Cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite Christmas morning food traditions, and this is the first Christmas season since I’ve started making sourdough. Earlier this year, I made an amazingly delicious cheese bubble bread, and I wondered if I could combine that bubble bread recipe with cinnamon rolls and make a Sourdough Cinnamon Monkey Bread, and it was delicious!

Kefir Cornbread

Cornbread, it’s not just for the holidays. This is a great recipe to pair with winter soups or chili.

Beverages

Bubbly New Year Kefir Soda

This is a recipe I wanted to try last year, but I had a hard time finding the mulling spices. So this year, I didn’t quit until I found the mulling spices (not with boxes of tea and not in the spice aisle, but in the seasonal section of my grocery store).

I whipped up a double batch in a ½ gallon mason jar, and I’ll transfer the soda to smaller flip-top bottles in a couple days.

Apple Spiced Kombucha

When I second ferment my Kombucha, my favorite easy combos are apple juice with cinnamon sticks and apple juice with fresh ginger. The recipes in this link include fresh apple or pear slices, which is even more fabulous and festive.

Desserts & More

Sweet Potato Cake, Sprouted Chocolate Pixies, and Chocolate Brownie Cake from GNOWFGLINS

The Dessert Recipe Listings at Cultured Food Life (so many to choose from!)

Cultured Recipes for Thanksgiving – a roundup from Cultures for Health

Whether you are hosting a gathering or attending a party, these recipes will add some “life” to the party, and your gut will thank you for the extra boost of probiotics. For more tips for the holiday season, check out: 7 Steps to Staying Healthy This Christmas Season (Despite the Holiday Parties!)