If you don’t have your menu planned for Thursday, have no fear! There is still time to get your shopping list together and while Thanksgiving is a day where we can let loose and indulge, it’s always good to have a few healthier dishes on your table.
To give us a few healthy (and delicious!) recipe options for Thursday, let me introduce today’s guest blogger Alicia of MarCom Land (follow her on twitter- @Alicia_Lw)
Alicia, take it away!
Happy Thanksgiving! Every year we swear that we’ll keep our gorging under control. We won’t go back for seconds. We won’t pass out in the recliner immediately after dinner. “This year will be different,” we tell ourselves. Yet every year, it’s the same story.
I promise you, this year really can be different. I scoured the far reaches of the Internet to find some of the most delicious, healthy recipes to grace your Thanksgiving table. Going back for seconds on these dishes won’t strain your waistband or your culinary skills.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
Don’t let your Thanksgiving table languish in browns and beiges. The beautiful orange of a sweet potato casserole dish will liven up your plate and provide you with vitamin A. This recipe from Food Network uses an egg instead of milk to fluff up the potatoes. Top the casserole with finely chopped pecans and you have a dish at only 160 calories a serving.
Green Bean Casserole
Put a twist on that calorie-heavy green bean casserole with this festive looking dish. Steam fresh green beans to retain their health benefits, substitute butter for a heaping tablespoon of coconut oil or olive oil, and only use 1 tablespoon of white sugar. This savory and sweet dish is sure to become a family favorite.
Wild Mushroom Stuffing
No Thanksgiving plate is complete without a helping of stuffing. The bread is what’s unhealthy, so look for a reduced-sodium whole wheat bread. With this recipe you’ll reduce the amount of bread and add a unique flavor by adding wild mushrooms. To keep the stuffing from sticking to your pan, use a Ceramic non-stick baking pan instead of adding more oil. This dish is 270 calories per service and can be made ahead for a stress-free Thanksgiving morning.
Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Oven roasted vegetables are a great way to add more nutrients and flavor to your menu, without adding tons of calories. Surprisingly, Brussels sprouts are one of the most versatile vegetables when it comes to roasting. Roasting with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper breaks down the bitterness and serves as the base for many festive recipes. Adding dried cranberries and pecans during the last few minutes of roasting makes this dish the perfect Thanksgiving accompaniment. Even the kids might come back for more.
Apple Tart
Pecan pie may be a holiday favorite, but unfortunately it’s one of the highest calorie pies out there. Fruit pies generally have a lower calorie count and to make your dessert healthier, make a single crust tart. This rustic apple pie uses half whole-wheat flour and low-fat buttermilk to make the flaky crust. The filling is jazzed up with dried cherries. A honey glaze added after baking gives the whole pie a sweeter flavor without adding many calories. At 230 calories a slice, it beats the 450-500 calories in pecan pie.
Now that you’ve got an arsenal of healthy recipes, there’s no need to fear the holiday season. Pairing healthier recipes with strategies like forgoing liquid calories and avoiding leftovers will help keep you out of elastic waistbands into the New Year. Happy Thanksgiving and happier cooking!
Photo Credit: Maggie Hoffman
