Celebrate Thanksgiving With These Healthy Recipes

Thanksgiving is the American holiday that celebrates being grateful for all the good things you have in your life. It is the time to spend with family and friends to enjoy a festive meal together.

It is also a time to  remember the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 when the pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans celebrated the first harvest of crops after a treacherous winter, according to History. Although George Washington issued a proclamation creating the first Thanksgiving Day in 1789, it was not an official holiday until 1870.

While this first Thanksgiving didn’t feature the rich foods that have become traditional Thanksgiving fare, you don’t have to eat venison, shellfish, and wild berries to make your feast healthier. But don’t worry about missing out on the flavors of the season, there are healthier ways to prepare everything from soup to dessert. Here are seven healthy Thanksgiving recipes that will enhance your holiday table.

Roasted Turkey

Turkey is an important part of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and since it is a lean protein it is something that is already healthy. The key is to prepare your turkey without adding a lot of extra fat and remember to eat in moderation. There’s a myriad of ways to use leftover turkey.

This recipe from Pioneer Woman is for a 20lb turkey but smaller turkeys are available or you can just roast a turkey breast. Turkeys should be moist and not overcooked so be sure to use a meat thermometer and cover the bird when roasting. You will need a whole turkey, one stick of butter or margarine, a whole orange, black pepper, and fresh rosemary sprigs.

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Creamy Vegan Pumpkin soup

This vegan pumpkin soup recipe from the Cookie + Kate foodie blog is very healthy. You will need a 4lb (1.8 kilogram) roasted sugar pumpkin, olive oil, yellow onion, garlic cloves, sea salt, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, vegetable broth, coconut milk, maple syrup, and pumpkin seeds to make this festive soup that has all the tastes of the season. Blend well after cooking for a creamy and delicious start to any holiday meal.

Winter Greens Salad

A colorful and healthy addition to any thanksgiving meal is a green salad. But salads do not have to be boring. Create a feast for your eyes and tastebuds with this winter greens salad recipe from Eating Well. All you need is baby spinach and romaine lettuce – but you can substitute other greens like arugula, radicchio, or kale – balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, fat free Greek yogurt, sugar-free strawberry preserves, apples, pomegranate seeds, and toasted walnuts. While this ingrediant list is long, you probably already have most of them in your fridge or pantry.

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Wild Rice Stuffing

Instead of a traditional bread stuffing, try this gluten-free and healthy wild rice stuffing recipe from the Cooking Made Healthy blog. You will need wild rice – rinsed and cooked – low sodium chicken broth, olive oil, riced cauliflower, cremini mushrooms, onion, celery, garlic, fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage,  and any others you have on hand, and pecans. You can also add walnuts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds to add some crunch.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

While people love a traditional sweet potato casserole or candied yams, there is a healthier alternative to serve instead. This mashed sweet potato side-dish from the recipe blog delish is simple, easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. It is a nutritious and delicious addition to any Thanksgiving table.

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Healthy Cranberry Sauce

This four ingredient and refined-sugar-free healthy cranberry sauce is a better choice on Thanksgiving than using canned. This easy recipe from the cooking blog From My Bowl takes only 15 minutes to prepare. All you need are fresh cranberries, maple syrup, orange juice, and vanilla extract. You can spice it up by adding cinnamon, cloves, and boost the citrus flavor with orange zest.

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Crustless Pumpkin Pie

For pumpkin pie lovers everywhere. You can enjoy this gluten-free crustless pumpkin pie recipe from delish with all the flavors of the season without the extra starch, sugar, or work. In fact, it takes less than half the time to make than a traditional pumpkin pie. You will need a can of pumpkin puree – not pumpkin pie filling – cream, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and a mixture of pumpkin pie spices. Just mix, pour into a pie tin, and bake.