Skip to Content
Hanukkah candles in blue.

Celebrating Hanukkah While Eating Paleo

Hanukkah is celebrated by over 100 countries and millions of people around the world each year. In addition to the religious practices and rituals of this time, the symbolism of hope, renewal, vitality, resilience, and simplicity can be found in everything from the Menorah to the holiday menu. To support the many people looking to celebrate Hanukkah who may have gluten allergies, dairy sensitivities, or simply a preference to eat minimally processed foods, we’ve curated a list of resources with hopes you’re able to focus on the reason for your holiday and be less stressed with planning and logistics. From our team to you and yours, Happy Hanukkah.

A young child infant of a menorah celebrating.

Grocery Shopping Practices that Align with Hanukkah

  • Prepare nutrient-dense meals that provide energy and other health benefits
  • Choose seasonal ingredients like squash, carrots, beets, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts
  • Shop from local farms with responsible agricultural practices that give back to the land
  • Season food with herbs of cultural significance such as parsley, mint, and thyme
  • Minimize highly processed foods that contain little nutritional value

Prepare Your Hanukkah Menu

Night 1: Latke Variations with Sauce Options

Night 2: A Sweet Potato Twist to Classic Kugel and a Sage Cranberry Mocktail

Night 3: Turkey Meatballs with a Cucumber Tomato Salad

Night 4: Baked Cod with Winter Salad

Night 5: Vegan- Friendly Roasted Eggplant with Carrots

Night 6: Roasted Chicken and Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

Night 7: Lamb Stew and Cranberry Lime Fizz

Night 8: Slow Cooker Brisket and Vegetables with Coconut Dessert

Support Optimal Digestion

Eating fried foods may cause GI upset, but incorporating fermented foods, foods rich in digestive enzymes, and drinking an apéritif and digestif surrounding your meal may reduce digestive issues. Also consider that minimizing or avoiding inflammatory foods and oils could also be supportive during this time.
Close-Up Shot of Fresh Pomegranates on a Plate

Traditional Hanukkah Foods with Many Health Benefits

Root veggies
Leafy greens
Squash
Figs
Dates
Pomegranates
Almonds
Walnuts
Fish
Lamb
Poultry

Health Benefits of Pomegranates
Father kissing daughter on the head durning a Hanukkah celebration.

Health-Forward Modifications to Traditional Recipes

  • Make Sufganiyot (traditional, jelly-filled donuts) using almond or coconut flour, and real fruit with honey or maple syrup
  • Alternatively, make treats that have a base or majority of ingredients as whole fruit or nuts
  • As dairy is sometimes prominent during Hanukkah celebrations, choose whole foods-based dairy alternatives with preparation methods that can provide both rich flavor and a more structured texture – like refrigerating cans of coconut cream overnight for making a cashew “cheese”
back to top