Healthy Recipies for Thanksgiving Dinner
The holiday season is filled with office parties, family gatherings, school celebrations, and social events that are stocked with appetizers, turkeys, chips and dips, desserts—you name it. Through the hustle and bustle it’s hard to take a minute to think about a healthy diet, but believe it or not there are ways to coincide a busy holiday schedule and recipes that are actually—dare we say—healthy. Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes to help you get in the spirit of the holidays without having to get into another pant size.
1. Sweet potato rounds with herbed ricotta and walnuts
When you’re looking for a healthy Thanksgiving recipe, these sweet potato rounds fit the bill. Savory, sweet, and ready in just about an hour, these sweet potato rounds are the perfect appetizers to take to your grandma’s house or a nearly last-minute snack for a Friendsgiving. Sweet potatoes are one of the healthiest vegetables and are known as a superfood, which makes a great alternative to their Yukon or Russet counterparts.
Get the recipe for sweet potato rounds with herbed ricotta and walnuts.
Photo courtesy of The Rusted Root
2. Roasted sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts
One of the easiest ways to get a healthy Thanksgiving side dish is to present the vegetables just as they are without a lot of frills. This roasted sweet potato and brussel sprouts recipe is easy to make ahead and reheat so that it doesn’t take up a lot of time in the oven on the day of. The best part? All you need to make this recipe is red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and just a few spices.
Get the recipe for these roasted sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts.
Photo courtesy of The Food Charlatan
3. Skinny corn casserole
Just because you’re trying to eat healthy does not mean that you have to miss out on casseroles, which if you ask us is one of the best things about Thanksgiving. This skinny corn casserole recipe is only 159 calories per serving and takes less than an hour to make. Enjoy this creamy casserole recipe as a side dish on turkey day or enjoy any time of the year.
Photo courtesy of Skinnymom
4. Gluten free walnut and kale quinoa stuffing
This gluten-free walnut and kale quinoa stuffing isn’t your grandma’s stuffing recipe. Though a little unconventional, this healthy and appetizing stuffing contains far less butter than traditional recipes with cornbread. The stuffing’s celery, cranberries, and toasted walnuts give the recipe a nice bite that pairs perfectly with turkey.
Get the recipe for gluten-free walnut and kale quinoa stuffing
Photo courtesy of Healthy Seasonal Recipes
5. Apple cranberry spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette
This festive, fresh salad is a great complement to all of the baked and prepared side dishes and provides a nice and much-needed crunch to Thanksgiving dinner. With apples, nuts, and cranberries, this salad is sweet, yet tangy with the balsamic vinaigrette. Don’t prepare this salad too early and toss with the dressing once you get to the party.
Get the recipe for apple cranberry spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette.
Photo courtesy of Julia’s Albu
6. A healthier roasted turkey breast
The turkey is the main event of Thanksgiving—the star, the reason we all drive hundreds of miles, and the cause of our hour nap after the meal is over. The turkey is also usually loaded down with butter, which can rack up the calorie count. This roasted turkey breast recipe may not contain butter, but it’s still a crowd pleaser and gives a moist, succulent turkey using a Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar combination.
Photo courtesy of Home Cooking Adventure
7. Healthy pumpkin pie
You might not think that the words “healthy” and “pumpkin pie” go together, but this recipe that uses coconut milk and ground flax delivers. Combine this pumpkin pie recipe with a whipped cream recipe that uses Greek yogurt instead of heavy whipping cream, and your dessert is practically calorically nonexistent (well, almost).
Photo courtesy of Chocolate Covered Katie