Thanksgiving Gone Healthy

I LOVE Thanksgiving. Not only is it the official start to the holiday season but it's also a holiday that all about food and family, two of my favorite things.

I used to think Thanksgiving was all about stuffing myself to the point where I needed to unbutton my pants. Sadly I grew up in a house where wearing elasticized pants was never an option - we DRESSED for the holidays. That didn't mean we ate less, just that we suffered a bit more when the waistband got tight. 

Well fast forward a few years and Thanksgiving looks a little different. We're still eating a lot of Thanksgiving dinner but it's cleaned up to include healthier options of our family favorites. Oh, and we do it in comfy clothes (no dress up rules in my house!) 

The big challenge, on holidays especially, is to come up with meals that not only taste just like the family favorites or better but that aren't laden in butter, sugar and fats. While my kids and husband have acclimated to eating more cleanly over the past 3 years, my extended family isn't having it, especially on a holiday when they want the old reliables. 

Fortunately, we've got a few time-tested delicious but still healthy eats up our sleeves. If you're trying to navigate the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with a healthy conscious mind, read on for some great recipes that will please even the most unhealthy eater and the health-conscious alike! 

Whether you’re hosting your first Thanksgiving at home for 20 people, going to celebrate at someone else’s house or doing it small and intimate, I’ve got you covered with some tips, tricks and healthy eats that are sure to please even the most discerning palate.

Appetizers:
I’m definitely all about having appetizers available when hosting a Thanksgiving get-together. But there’s no need for them to be heavy, especially when you’re about to sit down to a large meal. My best tip to you is to keep them light, nothing too filling before a large meal!

We're a big appetizer plate family. What that includes this year is the following: hard cheddar cheese, french bread, sliced green & red apples, baby carrots, hummus, salami, olives and orange slices. Some years we've also done a chip and dip option. I love this recipe for Creamy Spinach Dip.

The main event: TURKEY

Take a look at these 10 tips for making the perfect bird and, remember, don’t stuff the turkey or yourselves!

My one and only, favorite roasted turkey recipe

Super easy crockpot turkey breast (perfect if you're cooking for a smaller audience)

Herb-stuffed turkey breast

The best gravy you will ever eat. Seriously, we make gallons of it and if I let him, Andrew would drink it.

Make-ahead turkey gravy


Veggie side dishes:

The veggies may be the understated side dish of the meal but the veggies not only complete your dish with an array of vibrant colors, but they're also nutrient-packed :) I know it’s not going to slip anyone’s mind to make stuffing, sweet potato casserole or even cranberry sauce, but try to make sure that the Brussel sprouts, butternut squash and carrots get their deserved spotlight too. Their role may be small, but it’s just as important!

Roasted root medley

Cranberry parmesan roasted brussel sprouts

French cut green beans (we just saute them with a little olive oil and a little garlic)

Green bean casserole

Cauliflower mash

Mashed sweet potato brulee

Honey-glazed baby carrots

Slow-cooker cranberry & pear butter

Sweet Potato & Quinoa Stuffed Mushroom (for my vegetarian and vegan friends especially!)

Butternut Squash Soup

Starchy side dishes:
Starches and sauces add the decadence that Thanksgiving is all about. But there are endless ways to replace the calorie-packed ingredients for lighter, just as rich-tasting substitutes.

Kale & caramelized onion stuffing

Cornbread stuffing

Gluten-free cornbread

Corn & cheddar popovers


Desserts
I couldn’t forget the desserts and drinks, could I? I’m all about a lifestyle and eating plan that allows for cheats and treats here and there and a holiday is certainly a treat-worthy day. And these treats aren’t your heavy, processed, white sugar/flour store-bought treats. I'm talking easy to make, delicious and pretty darn healthy as well. Why not try one?

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (80/20 rule right? Here’s your 20%!)

Apple cranberry crisp

Hot mulled wine

Apple cider sangria

Pumpkin pie

Cranberry oatmeal chip cookies



Tips to have a healthy Thanksgiving:

1. Don't skip your workout! Even on turkey day. Make it a non-negotiable to sneak in at last 20 minutes of movement before the big meal. It may be holiday season, but that's no reason to eat ourselves into oblivion and skip that workout! Even if you're just carving out a little time to take the stairs, walk around the neighborhood or play soccer in the yard with the kids, every little bit helps!

2. Limit the alcohol. Just as I tell our challengers, for every alcoholic drink you drink, remember to have a glass of water before and after. Not only will that help cleanse your system and keep you hydrated, but it’ll also help you pace yourself which isn’t a bad thing, especially on a holiday! Why not do the same for your dessert? You can’t have too much water!

3. Hydrate! We somehow never forget to load up our plates but we do often forget the drink to go with it. As much as you can, make that drink water. A lot of the foods you're going to be eating, whether made by your or a family member, are apt to be higher in sodium than your usual eats. The best way to combat that salt is to stay hydrated.

4. Prioritize and go in with a game plan! My biggest tip to you this Thanksgiving, and frankly, this holiday season is to really think about where you want to spend your cheats. Yes, in theory you could gorge yourself on everything that comes your way over Thanksgiving, but it’s going to leave you feeling bloated and sick to your stomach. Instead, my strategy is to go in with a game plan. I’m all about the 80/20 rule - eating healthy and clean 80% of the time which then gives me the room to splurge a little in my remaining 20%. I approach a holiday meal the same way and try my best to eat as close to that 80/20 as possible. What’s that mean for me? Well, I look at my options for the entire meal and think about where I most want to spend my 20% and then work backwards. For me that means dessert. I know I plan to have apple pie to polish off my meal. I also know that I’m going to want a roll with dinner. Those choices mean I need to cut back elsewhere so for me that means skipping the stuffing and going with a baked sweet potato and green beans rather than the garlic mashed potatoes. When we do appetizers, I’m sticking with carrot sticks and guac instead of the marinated olives and cheese that my family is big on serving. It’s always good to go in with a plan and to really put that time in and weigh your options so you don’t find yourself on the holiday mindlessly snacking on everything that comes your way.