This year my Christmas is going to be just a leeetle bit different.

You see I come from a large Italian family and Christmas is by far our biggest, and most celebrated holiday. We drink a lot, eat even more, open presents and get really loud. It's tradition.

My mom grew up just south of Philadelphia and my whole family still lives there, so for as long as I can remember we have made the trek all the way from VT down there to spend Christmas as a family. It's around an 8 hour drive and I can only imagine what it was like for my parents with two little kids and a car full of presents.

But as we've gotten older, we've had less and less need for STUFF. Like I understand that Christmas is about giving and presents is part of the tradition, but I'm at the point in my life where a) I don't really need anything else, b) the stuff I do want is usually business related (photography equipment, etc.) and I'm better off buying it myself for tax reasons, and c) when I want something and have thought about it for a long time, I usually just end up buying it.

So the idea of just accumulating more stuff just because it's Christmas seems kind of silly…and my family agrees.

So what are we doing instead? WE'RE GOING ON VACATION!

That's right, me, my brother, Matt, my brother's gf Samantha and my parents are all packing our bags and heading for the tropics!

In lieu of gifts, we're going to be spending 12 days on the island of St. Lucia – we rented a villa up in the mountains and plan to do lots of hiking, swimming, beaching and relaxing. I'm not going to lie, it's going to be a bit strange celebrating Christmas with palm trees and no presents (and no big Italian feast), but I know we're just going to love it.

I honestly don't think my family has taken a trip together like this since I was in high school….which was a looooong time ago. So this is going to be quite a treat!

Which brings to me to salad. Particularly, this shredded brussels sprout quinoa salad which is loaded with nutritious ingredients like kale, walnuts, pomegranate seeds, lemon, apple cider vinegar and honey. It's tangy, sweet, crunchy, filling and perfect for the holidays!

These past few weeks leading up to our trip, I've really been making an effort to fill up on fruits and veggies so that I feel confident in my bathing suit (even though I'm going to be with my family and have nothing to be self-conscious of, it still helps you feel good about yourself). So I've been whipping up big salads like this for both my lunches and dinners because when you have a salad like this, you don't really need anything else!

It's filling, it's nourishing, it's detoxifying and it's delicious!

If we were at home and doing our normal Christmas, I would totally bring this salad to enjoy on the side. Plus, it never hurts to sneak in some veggies to a meal that is focused around raviolis! My family can always do with a little more greens.

So whether you're looking for a dish you can serve at Christmas or just want something healthy and detoxifying during this crazy time of year, you're going to adore this salad. And make it soon because pomegranates aren't in season too long and we need to enjoy them as much as possible while we can!

xo Alyssa

5 from 1 vote

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Kale + Shredded Brussels Sprout Quinoa Salad

this shredded brussels sprout quinoa salad which is loaded with nutritious ingredients like kale, walnuts, pomegranate seeds, lemon, apple cider vinegar and honey. It's tangy, sweet, crunchy, filling and perfect for the holidays!

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword brussel sprout, kale

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 179 kcal

Author Alyssa

Ingredients

• 1 lb brussels sprouts
• 2 cups finely chopped kale any variety; I used lacinato
• 1/4 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 tablespoon oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Salt + pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Using a mandolin slicer or a sharp knife, shred the brussels sprouts. Place them in a large bowl and add the kale. Set aside.
2. Add quinoa and walnuts to a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 8 - 12 minutes until the quinoa is crispy and the walnuts are golden brown, stirring around every few minutes so they don't burn. (I found that covering the skillet helped)
3. While the quinoa and walnuts are toasting, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, vinegar and honey. Season with salt and pepper, taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
4. Once the quinoa and walnuts have cooled slightly, add them, along with the pomegranate seeds, to the bowl with the vegetables and toss to combine. Add dressing and toss to coat.
5. Serve immediately or allow to sit in fridge for no more than 1 hour.*

Recipe Notes

I don't recommend making this salad too far ahead of time. I left mine overnight and the brussels sprouts started to smell pretty funky.

Nutrition Facts

Kale + Shredded Brussels Sprout Quinoa Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 179 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Sodium 115mg5%

Potassium 719mg21%

Carbohydrates 22g7%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 4200IU84%

Vitamin C 152mg184%

Calcium 112mg11%

Iron 2.6mg14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.