The holiday season, from beginning to end, gives us a total of 37 days for celebrating with family and friends. Intended for leisurely fun and festivities, this is the time for surrendering the notion of a perfect holiday and any urges to prepare complicated recipes to dazzle guests with feats of culinary wizardry. Instead, embrace the stress-free entertaining concept of playing host or hostess to a headache-less soiree that wows guests.

With the a wide array of scrumptious healthy appetizers, mouthwatering entrees, delicious party finger foods and sweet, gluten-free desserts available for call-ahead ordering at so many of our area’s healthy food restaurants and markets, it’s practically effortless. Dial the number, place the order, pick it up and present it with some holiday pizzazz. Bon appétit.

Have fun decorating the table, decide on a selection of festive music to set the tone and create a little ambiance with a few scented candles. Voila! Harry Potter holiday-style magic without the wand.

Whatever we’re in the mood for, we can find in healthy options and fresh food that’s good for our guests and ourselves.

Ada’s Natural Foods Market & Garden Café

7070 College Pkwy., Ft Myers
239-939-9600
AdasMarket.com

Enjoy an array of wraps and sandwiches; gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian fare and freshly made soups and bakery items with gluten-free options in pies, cookies, muffins, cakes and breads. Full-service organic juice and smoothie bar.

Chef Brooke’s Natural Café

1850 Boy Scout Dr., Ste. A106, Ft. Myers
239-332-2433
ChefBrookeOnline.com

Get some love in your tummy with organic, homemade foods that tempt with simple combinations and complex flavors. Enjoy gluten-free options, superfoods, smoothies and a juice bar. Catering and custom cakes available.

Cider Press Café

1201 Piper Blvd., Ste. 26, Naples
239-631-2500

Local and farm-to-table fresh, Florida-inspired, plant-based modernist cuisine. Enjoy fine dining in a casual setting, as well as a six-day subscription for rotated boxed meals that include a main dish and a soup or salad.

Beet and feta salad from Pizza Fusion

Earth Origins Market

850 Neapolitan Way, Naples
239-434-7221
EarthOriginsMarket.com

Explore a variety of freshly prepared, all-natural hot and cold entrees, salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, juices and smoothies from the deli and salad and juice bar.

Epiphany Gluten Free Bakery

2355 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Ste. 406, Naples
239-398-4428
Facebook.com/EpiphanyGlutenFreeBakery
[email protected]

Delicious paleo bread and rolls in many flavors, sandwich bread and rolls, gingerbread cookies, coconut chocolate chip cookies, paleo chocolate chip cookies, bodacious brownies and paleo raspberry swirl brownies.

Food & Thought 100% Organic Farm Market and Café

2132 Tamami Tr. N., Naples
239-213-2222
FoodAndThought.com

Fresh produce delivered daily for prepared-from-scratch homemade breakfast, lunch and dinner. Smoothies and juices are made with no ice, water or sugar—only 100 percent organic fruit and veggies.

Kitchen 41

2500 Tamiami Tr. N., Ste. 111, Naples
239-263-8009

Choose from appetizers such as the wild caught sea scallops served over pureed lima beans or plenty of healthy entrees or panini sandwiches served with freshly basked homemade focaccia bread. Soups, salads, pasta and individualized sauces, paired with proteins uniquely cooked under vacuum.

Loving Hut

975 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples
239-254-9490
LovingHut.us/naples_01

Experience gourmet, plant-based American, Chinese, Indian, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine made with vegan ingredients. Appetizers, salads, soups, noodles and rice dishes are all prepared fresh daily.

Bruschetta pizza from Pizza Fusion

Pizza Fusion

12901 McGregor Blvd., Ste., 5, Ft. Myers
239-337-7979
PizzaFusion.com/FortMyers

2146 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples
239-262-8111  
PizzaFusion.com/Naples

Pizza Fusion offers gourmet pizza, organic, gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free entrees, desserts, beers and wines, and eco-friendly dining. Dine-in, take-out, delivery within five-mile radius.

Nature’s Garden Organic Café

2089 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples
239-643-4959

Select from homemade health foods and beverages at the deli and juice bar.

Shangri-La Springs

27750 Old U.S. 41 Rd., Bonita Springs
239-949-0749
ShangrilaSprings.com

The public can enjoy an organic lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 to 2:30 p.m. Certified organic gardens on the spa property, in addition to locally sourced organic foods, allow for fresh farm to table seasonal produce. Attendees of classes, programs, workshops or events can purchase grab-and-go meals or partake before or after meals in the dining room or on the grounds.

Skinny Pantry

14261 S Tamiami Tr., Ste. 17, Ft. Myers.
239-935-5093
TheSkinnyPantry.com

Enjoy paleo compliant grab-and-go meals and vegan muffins. Gluten-free options. Sweet gluten-free deserts such as carrot or cheesecake.

Tropical Smoothie Café

Seven locations in Naples, Estero, Ave Maria and Ft. Myers
TropicalSmoothie.com

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, they offer a variety of fresh wraps, sandwiches, salads and flatbreads, in addition to real fruit smoothies.

Whole Foods Market

9101 Strada Pl., The Mercado, Naples
239-552-5100
WholeFoodsMarket.com

A wide variety of foods prepared by trained team members under the supervision of an experienced chef include natural and organic ingredients purchased locally when possible. No artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives or trans fats. Gluten-free offerings. See ad, page xx.

Wynn’s Market

141 9th St. N., Naples
239-261-7157

Fresh, quality, healthy meals, as well as favorite comfort foods. Organic, natural and imported selections. Gluten-free offerings.