In addition to acknowledging gratitude and spending time with family, Thanksgiving for many people is all about the food! Thanksgiving feasts are a beloved American tradition, with main courses, side dishes, and desserts that are undeniably delicious. However, these traditional foods are not necessarily known for their high nutrition content or for getting high ratings for being healthy.
To help you celebrate the season in a festive way without ruining the good eating habits that you’ve been keeping up with, here are some healthier Thanksgiving recipe ideas to try this year.
Festive Pumpkin Soup
Who says pumpkin needs to be saved for the end of a Thanksgiving meal for dessert? To satisfy your pumpkin craving, consider starting off your meal with a pumpkin soup that’s hearty enough to be a main course and that features fresh cauliflower as a bonus ingredient for extra nutrition.
INGREDIENTS:
- ½ tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic
- 1 diced onion
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 5 cups fresh cauliflower florets
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 15-ounce can of unsweetened pumpkin
- 1 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ cup canned light coconut milk
- Chopped green onions and chives for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
- Heat oil over medium heat
- Sauté onion in oil and add garlic and ginger
- Add cauliflower, broth, and canned pumpkin
- Bring to a boil and cover
- Add sugar, salt, and light coconut milk
- Place mixture in a blender to mix until pureed and smooth
Fresh Herb Stuffing
In many households, it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without stuffing; however, there are many ways to make this festive food. This recipe uses fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, as well as whole wheat bread to make it a healthier version of what grandma used to make.
INGREDIENTS:
- 16 cups whole wheat bread cut into cubes
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 2 cups diced apples (style of your choice)
- 3 stalks diced celery
- 2 diced yellow onions
- 2 tsp. rosemary
- 2 tsp. parsley
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- ½ cup sliced almonds
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees
- Spread bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes
- Combine all ingredients except for vegetable stock and almonds in a large pan
- Sauté the mixture for 10 minutes
- Place bread and mixture in a large bowl and add vegetable stock and almonds
- Stuffing can be added into a 12-pound turkey with the legs tightly tied with a string
Honey Garlic Carrot Side Dish
Pumpkin isn’t the only festive orange vegetable that deserves a seat at the Thanksgiving table. Carrots also make a colorful and healthy addition to a holiday meal, and they’re easy to prepare and mix with other healthy ingredients too.
INGREDIENTS:
- 6 large carrots cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- Rosemary for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Combine oil, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl
- Add carrots and mix thoroughly
- Spread carrots out on aluminum foil on a baking sheet
- Bake carrots for 30 minutes
- Sprinkle with rosemary and serve