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7 Recipes for a Healthy Thanksgiving Meal
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Thanksgiving is many things. The start of the holiday season, a time to connect with family and friends and an opportunity to do some major cooking. It can also be a challenge in terms of maintaining portion control and good choices when temptations abound. One of the best ways to indulge wisely is to prepare food that's not only nutritious, but also delicious, so that we're satisfied by what's on our plates and less tempted to reach for more. That's why we've put together recipes for an entire Thanksgiving meal healthier than the classics. From turkey to stuffing, you'll find everything you need to put together a healthy Thanksgiving meal, without missing out on flavor.
Roasted Beer-Brined Turkey
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The star of the show on Thanksgiving day can stand alone beautifully with a golden brown (think, largely rendered of fat) finish and still be moist and flavorful with proper brining.
Spicy Mashed Coconut Sweet Potatoes
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With their higher fiber and abundance of vitamins and minerals, sweet potatoes are a great alternative to traditional spuds, and still taste indulgent. The use of coconut milk in this version helps create a subtle sweetness to balance the spice.
Cauliflower Rice Stuffing
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Let's be honest, for many of us, the best part of Thanksgiving is the stuffing. Unfortunately, it can be the least nutritious holiday dish, and the least forgiving on our waistlines. This guilt-free update on the classic is a great way to enjoy stuffing flavors, minus the belly bomb that can leave us groaning at the table. Plus, the cauliflower delivers almost an entire day's worth of vitamin C, antioxidants and other vitamins.
Chia Cranberry Sauce
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The consistency created by chia seeds in this sauce will make a convert of even the most die-hard canned cranberry jelly lover. And the abundance of Omega-3 fatty acids in the seeds adds a nutritional element not typically found on the Thanksgiving table. Not only do Omega-3's help lower cholesterol and help joint health, they are also believed to improve brain function.
Green Beans with Goat Cheese, Shallot and Walnuts
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This healthy side comes together at the last minute and adds a crunchy component to the meal. We don't typically see salad on Thanksgiving, and the green beans here help kick up the vitamins and minerals quotient of the meal. Plus, they are a great source of manganese, an element that's essential for bone health. The walnuts include a healthy fat called alpha-linoleic acid. Don't worry, there won't be a quiz - all you need to remember is that the fat actually helps blood vessels dilate, thereby improving blood flow. And the goat cheese in this dish ensures that these fresh greens are anything but boring.
Pumpkin Pie Greek Yogurt Dip
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Move over I'm-already-too-stuffed desserts, and forget about rolling out a tricky pie crust. ?This easy to prepare, light alternative is long on pumpkin flavor and short on saturated fat and empty calories.?It would also make a perfect snack in the days following Thanksgiving, when you want to get back on track but still crave seasonal flavors.
Perfect Pumpkin Muffins
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Breakfast on Thanksgiving is the kick off to the big day, often with lots of people in the kitchen for hours. With all the moving parts, it's helpful to have something already on hand. These muffins are perfect for the holidays, loaded with vitamins and minerals, and hearty enough to get you through the morning yet low in sugar, so they won't leave you crashing come 11 a.m.