Smarter Solutions: Three Recipes with Winter Squash, Dried Cherries, and Quinoa.

Photographs by Michael Fornataro | Styling by Alyssa Otto

After we welcome a parade of rich holiday staples — and then solemnly swear to clean up our eating habits in the new year — we’re searching for healthier dishes that won’t skimp on heartiness. Quinoa rises to the challenge, with a dose of fiber and protein that keeps us full without inducing a food coma. Sweeten the superfood with some dried cherries, packed with Vitamin C to stave off those sniffles and serve a much better purpose than they would in any fruitcake, then round out the combo with the colorful, nutritious addition of winter squash.