Thanksgiving is a time of feasting, a day to spend with family and feel grateful for all you have. Why should you let a holiday with such good intentions make you feel bad about your dieting efforts? If you’re looking for healthy Thanksgiving meals, try out these ideas from the weight loss experts at BMI of Texas.
Savory turkey:
What’s Thanksgiving dinner without a turkey? With this savory turkey recipe, you can prepare the bird with less fat and sodium than traditional methods without detracting from the flavor. Plus, by using chicken broth and draining away excess fat from the drippings before making the turkey gravy, you still get plenty of sauce without all the calories.
Fancy Brussels sprouts:
It’s very important to include plenty of vegetables with your Thanksgiving meal. With this recipe, your body benefits from the nutrients found in Brussels sprouts while your taste buds celebrate a unique chestnut and sage flavor. Make the prep work a little easier on yourself by purchasing cooked and peeled chestnuts in a jar for this recipe.
Garlic green beans:
This side dish is a healthy alternative to the traditional fatty, sodium-laden green bean casserole. With seasonings that include olive oil, garlic, parsley, tarragon, salt and pepper, these fancy garlic green beans leave nothing to be desired. Consider cooking this dish in advance so you can quickly heat and season the beans right before the meal.
Creamy mashed cauliflower:
Looking for the perfect low-carb stand-in for mashed potatoes? Mashed cauliflower to the rescue! Thanks to the addition of chives, garlic, cream cheese, parmesan and a touch of butter, mashed cauliflower has plenty of flavor with only one-quarter of the calories found in mashed potatoes.
Homemade stuffing:
That boxed stuff may be easy to make, but you can cut out the carbs and boost the flavor with this pear, prosciutto and hazelnut stuffing recipe. Unique additions to this healthy Thanksgiving food include prosciutto, fennel, shallots, sage, thyme, Bosc pears and hazelnuts. It’s best if you make the stuffing the day before so it doesn’t take up space in the kitchen until you’re ready to sit down to a healthy Thanksgiving meal.
Cranberry sauce:
You probably picture a sticky, sugary mess when you think of cranberry sauce. However, with this recipe, you can dress your turkey with low-carb, sugar-free cranberry sauce. Ditch the canned stuff and make your own sauce the day before Thanksgiving. Simply boil fresh cranberries, water and granulated erythritol. Then stir in stevia extract, let it all cool and transfer your finished sauce to a jar so it’s all ready to go.
Pumpkin pie:
It’s the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert, but can you really prepare a healthy version of pumpkin pie? Thankfully, yes. It starts with a hazelnut and pecan crust. A can of pumpkin puree is just fine, as long as “pumpkin” is the only ingredient in the can. You can also make your own puree by roasting fresh pumpkin in the oven at 350 degrees for about an hour. Then, instead of using white sugar, sweeten the pie with honey or Xylitol. Honey is a natural and non-toxic alternative. Xylitol is a delicious and healthy artificial sweetener that is safe for diabetics, helps to reduce dental caries and contains one third less calories than sugar. Both are great sugar substitutes for this holiday indulgence. Make sure to add spices such as cloves and ginger that ensure you end up with a taste you’ll love.
Not only are these healthy Thanksgiving meals good for your waistline, they’ll make you feel like you didn’t miss out at all. Eating healthy is easier than you think; you just need the right recipes from a weight loss expert to get you started. To learn more about our weight loss options, please contact BMI of Texas today.