Thanksgiving Dinner Makeovers

I often notice that health and wellness aren’t much of a priority during the holiday season. I fully support treating yourself, but it’s so important to keep eating nutrient rich, whole foods every day. So to kick off the upcoming festivities, I wanted to share a few ideas on how to keep your Thanksgiving dinner on the healthier side.

Turkey

As a lean protein, turkey itself is fine. It contains vitamins and minerals, like B6, B12, and zinc. The problem is when it gets stuffed with breadcrumbs and doused in gravy. To get maximum benefits with minimum pitfalls, skip the breadcrumbs.

Cauliflower stuffing

Speaking of stuffing, try making a cauliflower-based one as a side dish. Besides being rich in vitamins and minerals, I love cauliflower because it can help boost brain health and has lots of fiber, which aids with digestion. And although it won’t taste exactly like traditional stuffing, you can still use many of the same dry seasonings so you’re not missing out on flavor.

Mashed sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a terrific healthy carb, plus they’re high in antioxidants, promote vision health, and help stabilize blood sugar. They’re also very high in vitamin A, which helps stimulate the production of immune cells. Try making it with ghee instead of butter, and unsweetened nut milk in lieu of cow’s milk or cream.

Vegetables

Any veggie will do, but the best ones are leafy greens like kale. It’s high in iron, calcium, and vitamins K, A, and C. Kale is also great for cardiovascular support and is high in antioxidants. Keep it simple by sauteing it in a little coconut oil. The coconut oil adds some fat and takes away from kale’s naturally bitter taste.

Happy Thanksgiving!