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What type of New Year’s Eve persona are you? Some of us are the partygoers, intent on making the most of the final few hours of the year. Others, like myself, look forward to curling up in my coziest pajamas with a friend, good book, cuddly pet—or preferably, all three!—for company. There are others still who find themselves somewhere in between, either booking a table for two at a favorite restaurant or hosting a small group of friends at home. Whichever describes your NYE plans best, there’s a common ground we can all agree on. While indulging is par for the course when it comes to celebrating the year to come, I doubt any of us want to wake up to either a sugar or alcohol-induced headache. To help us fend off bad 2024 vibes, I rounded up my favorite healthy New Year’s Eve recipes. 

Remember: restriction is not the goal. My hope is to help you fill your plate with all the delicious and nutritious foods that’ll let you celebrate the holiday in whatever way you please while waking up ready to make your 2024 vision board a reality. I found everything from mocktails to satisfying mains to small bites bursting with flavor. Get ready for gluten-free goodness, vegan deliciousness, and veggie-packed apps. 

18 Healthy New Year’s Eve Recipes

Something I love about setting the intention to incorporate healthier foods into my diet is the creativity it inspires. When you’re focusing on bringing color and feel-good ingredients to every meal, the foods you create and consume are inevitably more satisfying. You might be surprised to discover how much closer and more connected you are to what you eat. And honestly, that feeling alone is far more gratifying than stressing over calorie counts.

So with abundance on our minds and excitement to try all the healthy food and flavor combos, let’s dive in. Get ready to wrap up 2023 on a high note and ring in the new year to come.

Healthy Mocktails

Minty Pomegranate Punch

Why We Love It: Pomegranates are the ever-elusive ingredient that I’m desperate to make the most of when they’re in season. Muddling the pomegranate arils with blueberry and mint balances the sweet and tart flavors beautifully. Trust me when I say this will be the best take on a non-boozy mojito you’ve ever had.

Hero Ingredient: I love the cool and sweet flavor that mint can bring to just about anything.

Salty Dog Mocktail

Why We Love It: Okay, so technically this recipe was developed as a cocktail. But thankfully, Camille was thinking ahead and figured many of us would want to ring in the new year with this drink—minus the vodka. It’s one of our most popular recipes of 2023, and for good reason. It’s refreshing and hydrating, and you can sip on it knowing you won’t wake up with a hangover in the morning.

Hero Ingredient: Grapefruit juice is my all-time favorite mixer for mocktails and cocktails alike.

Healthy Snacks and Appetizers

Crudite Platter

Why We Love It: With an abundant crudite platter on your table, you can make your eat-more-veggies-in-2024 goal a reality even before the clock strikes midnight. One of the many beautiful things about this healthy New Year’s Eve recipe is that it’s a choose-your-own-adventure-type situation. Follow the template we’ve provided and then let your cravings guide the way.

Hero Ingredient: If you need me, I’ll be right next to the creamy caramelized onion dip.

Sautéed Garlic, Carrot, and Hummus Toasts

Why We Love It: One peek at these toasts’ bright pop-of-orange topping and I immediately think healthy. Thankfully, after just one bite, you’ll realize that the flavor follows suit. Crunchy, toasted sourdough serves as the base with a thick smear of creamy hummus and sweet and spicy carrots to finish things off. Proof that virtuous eating doesn’t ever have to be boring.

Hero Ingredient: This snack will transform all your previous opinions about carrots. Lacking flavor? Never.

Smoky Eggplant Dip

Why We Love It: Baba ganoush, but with the volume turned up (and that’s saying something). If you think eggplant-based dips are for warm-weather gatherings only, think again. Once your eggplant has been roasted, all that’s left to do is mix its creamy goodness with the ultimate blend of spices and flavorings (think: smoked paprika, thyme, garlic, tahini, and cumin). The resulting flavor is over the top.

Hero Ingredient: Choose from any of the spices I listed above. They all bring so much depth and dimension to this dip, it’s hard to name the best.

Holiday Charcuterie Board

Why We Love It: I know what you’re thinking—charcuterie… healthy? Here’s the beautiful thing about constructing and snacking on a charcuterie board: the components are totally up to you. Olives and nuts deliver a healthy dose of fats while fresh and dried fruits (grapes, figs, and pomegranate arils) lend a little antioxidant love to the mix. From there, sprinkle in some cheese and dried meats and top your crackers as you please. The tasty, colorful combos are limited only by your imagination.

Hero Ingredient: Again, there are no hard-and-fast rules about what your charcuterie board should and shouldn’t include. But if I had to pick just one standout snack, it’d be Marcona almonds. Even the Barefoot Contessa agrees.

Maman’s Kale Pea & Ricotta Spread

Why We Love It: Of all the healthy New Year’s Eve recipes I can think of, this might be my all-time fave. Why? First off, let’s talk about the color. Kale and peas yield a bright, vibrant green that’s welcome in the middle of winter. And the texture is beyond creamy, thanks to a healthy dose of the ricotta. Lastly, this spread boasts beautiful flavor with the nutmeg, black pepper, lemon, and red pepper flakes all mixed in.

Hero Ingredient: It has to be the lemon juice. It’s essential for brightening up any healthy New Year’s Eve recipe.

Ricotta with Pears and Honeyed Pistachios

Why We Love It: Approved for Instagram and all of your social media pursuits, this ricotta board is beyond beautiful. And thankfully, so simple to put together. With only the most minimal amount of effort required, you’ll have this five-ingredient appetizer on the table within minutes.

Hero Ingredient: It’s the pistachios. The blend bright color with crunchy texture to perfection.

Healthy Sides and Main Dishes

Squash Farro Salad With Apple, Goat Cheese, & Pecans

Why We Love It: The salty-sweet combination of this salad’s impressive ingredients is unmatched. Farro is a nutty, toothsome grain that you need to start incorporating into your 2024 cooking, stat. This salad is a perfect entry point, with delicata squash that crisps up in the oven, tangy goat cheese, crisp apples, and a dressing you’ll be putting on everything.

Hero Ingredient: Dijon mustard is my favorite base for any vinaigrette. It adds a punch of flavor that’ll have you licking this dressing off the spoon.

Zucchini Pasta

Why We Love It: If your New Year’s Eve gathering is more of a sit-down celebration than a finger food fête, this is the main to make. Pasta is always my go-to when I’m wanting to impress without worrying whether or not my dish will actually turn out. Intentionally rustic, this veggie-packed pasta is inherently and beautifully imperfect. It’s a healthy recipe that feels special enough to welcome in the new year.

Hero Ingredient: Keep the parmesan coming.

Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta

Why We Love It: While it might not seem special enough to bring to your New Year’s Eve gathering, this isn’t just any old pasta. This dish is creamy, comforting, and cheesy, but more than that, it’s full of nuanced flavor thanks to the miso and sage. You heard it here first—chickpea pasta is taking over.

Hero Ingredient: The butternut squash makes this the ultimate sweet and savory pasta.

Vegan Flatbread with Roasted Carrot and Red Pepper Hummus

Why We Love It: It’s basically a rule: When hummus is on the table, the party has started. But if you’re looking for a main dish that’ll take everyone’s favorite party snack to the next level, this flatbread is your answer. Toasty, charred pita meets creamy and sweet hummus and gets topped with fresh and flavorful veggies. The celebrations really can’t begin until you serve this.

Hero Ingredient: Give it up for the two teaspoons of paprika that weave in a little smoky heat for a hummus that’s truly addictive.

Honey Sriracha Tempeh Spring Rolls

Why We Love It: There’s something about these spring rolls that feels perfect for New Year’s Eve. Perhaps it’s because I’ve always associated finger food with the holiday or the fact that the presentation is a surefire stunner. Regardless, these plant-based, protein-packed rolls will satisfy every appetite and pair perfectly with a glass of bubbly.

Hero Ingredient: The sauce is a stunner, and I have to give the award to sriracha for boosting its flavor with a pungent, garlicky heat.

Healthy Desserts

Easy Cinnamon Baked Apples

Why We Love It: I was at a dinner party the other night where someone served spicy, sweet, and cozy baked apples. While the presentation was humble, the flavor and all-around impact were beyond words. A total of nine ingredients (two being water and salt) makes this just about the simplest after-dinner sweet. And because when you’re working with something as wonderfully delicious as apples, there’s not much that can be improved upon.

Hero Ingredient: Except… butter makes everything better.

Gluten-Free Citrus Cake with Strawberries and Cardamom Coconut Cream

Why We Love It: When it comes to healthy New Year’s Eve recipes, this dessert takes the literal cake. The recipe is a chic yogurt cake that combines almond flour and gluten-free AP to yield a fluffy, cloud-like confection. It’s a GF twist that’s still dreamy and decadent.

Hero Ingredient: Coconut cream is my favorite way to whip up a quick dairy-free garnish.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Brownies

Why We Love It: Because of their rustic, humble presentation, you might not associate brownies with this sparkly and glitzy holiday. But… that’s where you’d be wrong. When the clock strikes midnight and your guests are a couple of champagne coupes deep, nothing will satisfy the craving for something sweet quite like a chocolatey brownie. And because these are both gluten- and dairy-free, everyone can enjoy.

Hero Ingredient: I love swapping in maple syrup instead of granulated sugar. It makes for a complex sweetness and nice, moist crumb.

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies with Coconut, Raisins, and Dark Chocolate

Why We Love It: These healthy oatmeal cookies are one of my favorite 3 p.m. snacks, but their beauty lies in their versatility. Truly, you can enjoy these almost any time of day and for any occasion—New Year’s Eve, included. Enjoy the crispy-chewy texture these cookies offer thanks to the blend of raisins, dark chocolate, walnuts, coconut flakes, and oats. That’s right, these deliver it all.

Hero Ingredient: No cookie is complete without flaky salt sprinkled on top.

Healthy & Easy Apple Crumble

Why We Love It: Think you can’t enjoy apples past November? Think again, my friends. While the pumpkin spice gives off distinct autumnal vibes, you have my permission to bake this crumble all winter long. It’s spicy, crispy, and just sweet enough.

Hero Ingredient: It’s not a crumble without oats. They get deliciously crisp in the oven and create the perfect bite against the soft, melt-in-your-mouth apples.

I’ve been off my morning workout game for a while now. Where I once bolted out of bed, ready and energized for a 6 a.m. barre class, I now face a daily battle with my alarm clock. It’s a scene many others experience—puttering downstairs and relying on your (blessed) coffee to wake you up. I won’t lie: compared to my previous morning person status, the grogginess and slow start to my day are less than ideal. And because there’s something so gratifying about getting your fitness in first thing, I found the very best morning workouts to kickstart your day.

I want to be clear: you don’t have to be a morning person to establish healthy routines. The AM hours aren’t for everyone. Depending on our sleep chronotypes, some of us perform best in the morning while others feel the most energized later on. Before convincing yourself a morning workout is a must, do a little digging and reflection (journaling can help) to better understand what you need and what realistically fits into your day.

If you’re a mom and can’t get a minute to yourself before the kids head to school, squeeze something in during lunch. Or maybe you’re booked around the clock and look forward to your precious evening hour at the gym. But if a morning workout is calling, read on. These are the very best workouts for building strength, getting energized, and connecting with your body and mind before heading into the day.

Featured image by Riley Blanks Reed.

The Benefits of a Morning Workout

That 30-minute workout you did in the morning will have a different impact later in the day. Taking into account everything from metabolism to mood to your energy, when you work out matters. While common reasoning might suggest that working out in the evening will tire you out before bed, it’s in fact the AM exercisers who experience this benefit. Studies have found that working out in the morning can result in deeper sleep with fewer disruptions throughout the night. To max out the benefits, try exercising outside. Exposure to natural light first thing can help regulate your circadian rhythm and help you produce more melatonin at night.

Beyond better sleep and boosted energy, the benefits of a morning workout include:

• Improved mood
• Increased focus
• Blood sugar regulation

Anecdotally, I personally find that if my motivation to work out is lacking, it’ll only continue to decrease throughout the day (just as the excuses simultaneously pile up). Want to ensure you get that workout in? Make it happen in the morning.

10-Minute Morning Workouts

Mobility Yoga Workout — Well + Good

Equipment: Yoga mat

While improving your mobility isn’t as sexy as, say—six-pack abs or a toned upper body, prioritizing it is a key element of promoting longevity. This is a great workout if you’re short on time and still looking to warm up your body before taking on the day. It’s a juicy, heart-opening flow that has you moving through postures including Downward Dog, Cobra, Child’s Pose, and more.

10-Minute Morning Yoga — Yoga With Adriene

Equipment: Yoga Mat

Adriene Mishler is a favorite around here for her intention-driven routines and mindset. A darling of the online yoga world, millions have flocked to Adriene for years for her calming voice and accessible routines. This morning yoga workout is specifically designed to help you bridge the gap between sleep and the start of your day. It’s not just a lovely stretch for your body, but an invitation to step into your morning with alignment and clarity.

10-Minute Resistance Band Booty Workout — Livestrong Women

Equipment: Yoga Mat, Resistance Band

I love a good resistance band workout. The prop is not only unbelievably effective at engaging your muscles, but it also puts less impact on your joints (i.e., less chance of injury). And though this is seat-specific workout, using resistance bands activates your core as your body works to maintain balance throughout the posture. With burpees, side squats, and glute bridges trust me—you’ll be feeling this.

15-Minute Morning Workouts

15-Minute Good Morning Workout — @MadFit

Equipment: Yoga Mat

Low-impact, low-intensity workouts are great to get the blood flowing first thing without putting too much strain on your body. Featuring different Pilates postures and moments of stretch, this quick workout is a go-to if you’re looking to establish a stronger mind-body connection before you start the day.

15-Minute barre3 Signature Workout with Allison — barre3

Equipment: Yoga Mat

Barre3 is my go-to workout, and I’ll shout my praises until I’m blue in the face. This low-impact routine combines strength conditioning, cardio, and mindfulness for a super efficient, full-body workout that actually feels good. If you’re looking for modifications, keep your eye on the gal in the back. She’ll provide you with the direction you need to ensure you’re getting the best workout.

15-Minute Low-Impact Lower Body Cardio — Pvolve

Equipment: Gliders or paper plates

PSA: You don’t have to go for a run or spend an hour in the cycle studio for effective cardio. With squats, lunges, and mountain climbers, this workout will get your heart rate up in no time. You might be surprised by how slowly some of the postures go, but if you’ve ever held a plank for more than 30 seconds, you’ll know you don’t have to move at all to get a good sweat. My other favorite part of this workout? The instructor provides clear verbal and visual guides to ensure your technique is top-notch.

20-Minute Morning Workouts

20-Minute Full-Body Pilates HIIT Workout

Equipment: Yoga Mat

This is a fun fusion workout if you like routines that mix it up. It starts with a slow, yoga-inspired warm-up and progresses to Pilates postures designed to lengthen the body and challenge your core. While the postures will challenge you in subtle ways, there’s adequate time for rest in between exercises, making it a great workout for beginners or anyone just getting back into their routine.

20-Minute Low-Impact Full-Body Workout — @growwithjo

Equipment: Yoga Mat

The smile on her face is proof enough: this is a feel-good, mood-boosting workout. To set the tone for your day, get pumped up with a vibey, beat-driven playlist and moves that feel intuitive and good in your body. Expect to get sweaty, because though the exercises are simple, you do not stop moving the entire 20 minutes.

20-Minute Full-Body Barre Workout — Well + Good

Equipment: Yoga Mat

Barre workouts are designed to challenge the body through tiny, targeted movements. Expect to work your glutes, core, and lower body with kick-backs, bicycle crunches, and squats aplenty. You’ll feel balanced and energized once the 20 minutes are up. There’s also ample time given for stretching at the end to ensure you have the space to cool down and recover.

30-Minute Morning Workouts

30-Minute Full Body Pilates Workout for Strength and Flexibility — Isa-Welly

Equipment: Yoga Mat

If you want to ease into your day feeling loose in your body and energized all over, press play. Of all the instructors in this roundup, Isa-Welly’s my favorite. Her voice is soothing and her cues help you get deeper into the postures and experience greater alignment in your body. The music is chill, creating a rejuvenating space for you to start the day strong.

30-Minute Total-Body HIIT Workout With Natalie White — PopSugar Fitness

Equipment: Yoga Mat

PopSugar Fitness is a treasure trove for all kinds of workouts—setting you up for success no matter how you’re feeling. For those who crave a little more intensity in the morning, this HIIT workout features moves that target your entire body, with particular focus on your arms and core. Expect planks, reverse lunges, burpees and more. Fitness trainer Natalie White is joined by Madisyn Sloane Maniff and Luisa Fonseca who each show modifications so you can make the workout your own. It’s totally customizable, helping you wrap up this sweaty workout feeling confident and energized.

30-Minute Mood Boost and Anxiety Release Cardio Workout — @growwithjo

Equipment: None

If you’re in need of a major mood boost, this is the workout for you. @growwithjo brings her usual high-vibe energy to this 30-minute cardio workout. Much of the workout keeps you moving and on your feet, but the heart-pumping postures are strategically spliced with squat holds and stretching, helping you activate your muscles and leave the workout feeling totally refreshed.