SparkPeople Blogs • thanksgiving • fall
![20 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes Your Family Will Rave About (1) 20 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes Your Family Will Rave About (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) By SPARK_MRUDY,SparkPeople Blogger 11/9/2016 Thanksgiving isn't a holiday known for moderation. To the contrary, research from theCalorie Control Council shows that the average American could consume in excess of 4,500 calories and a staggering 229 grams of fat over the course of the food-filled day. Before you jump on the bandwagon and join the artery-clogging madness, consider trying some lighter, healthier versions of classic Thanksgiving fare. After all, a calorie saved is a calorie you don’t have to worry about tomorrow.
These dishes allow you to indulge your fall cravings without sending calorie counts through the roof, and will have you giving thanks when it’s time to put on those New Year’s jeans.
- Healthy Roasted Turkey: Cut the calories, not the tradition. The herb mixture creates a mouth-watering medley of flavors.
![20 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes Your Family Will Rave About (2) 20 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes Your Family Will Rave About (2)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==)
- Baked Chicken Breasts: When you want to include an alternative to turkey, these brined chicken breasts serve as a savory stand-in.
- Grilled Veggie Salad: This seasonal medley is just as stunning to behold as it is scrumptious to eat.
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce: You'll never even want to look at the canned version again after tasting this healthier homemade sauce.
- Green Beans with Shallots and Pine Nuts: This vegan, gluten-free side dish gets plenty of flavor from garlic, pine nuts and shallots.
- Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Soup: Sprinkled with toasted almonds and fresh rosemary, this simple, yet satisfying soup is ready in less than 30 minutes.
- Cranberry Stuffed Acorn Squash: This savory, gluten-free side dish serves as a delicious alternative to traditional stuffing.
- Hummus Mashed Potatoes: No need to feel guilty about enjoying this classic, creamy Thanksgiving staple because, well, HUMMUS.
- Cinnamon Brûléed Sweet Potato Purée: Looking for an alternative to traditional mashed potatoes? This smooth, creamy dish tastes and looks much more complex than it is to prepare.
- Slow Cooker Creamed Corn: Free up a spot on the stovetop and prepare this delicious veggie side dish in your slow cooker. It's as easy as tossing in a few ingredients and letting it simmer.
- Whole-Grain Skillet Cornbread: This whole-food recipe is sweetened with coconut sugar and honey, with no oils or refined sugar in sight.
- Pork, Butternut and Mushroom Stuffing: You won't believe this hearty, flavorful stuffing is both gluten- and grain-free.
- Maple-Dijon Roasted Brussel Sprouts: Two bites in, they'll forget they ever had anything but love for sprouts.
- Whole Food Apple Sausage Stuffing: This healthy stuffing swaps out traditional breads for wheat varieties and incorporates Italian chicken sausage and Granny Smith apples. You're welcome!
- Healthy Mashed Carrots: Who says potatoes get to have all the fun? This creamy alternative to mashed spuds is full of flavor and low in calories.
- Roasted Yams with Honey Walnuts and Raisins: If they weren't packed with vitamins and sweetened with all things natural and wholesome, these succulent yams would seem downright sinful.
- Clean Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte: Relax after the big dinner with this wholesome, homemade version of your favorite coffee-shop indulgence.
- Easy Apple Crisp: It doesn't get much more comforting than this cinnamon-spiced appetizer/snack/dessert.
- Pumpkin Pie Snickerdoodles: These delicious, guilt-free pumpkin and cinnamon cookies are far healthier than they taste.
- Paleo Pumpkin Pie: It's true: Even pumpkin pie can be healthy! This gluten-free, dairy-free version is packed with all of the good stuff and none of the bad.
Hopefully these options have taken a little of the anxiety out of your pre-holiday prep. What are your favorite healthy Thanksgiving recipes?
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FAQs
Top 10 Thanksgiving Dishes
- Turkey.
- Stuffing/Dressing.
- Pumpkin Pie.
- Sweet Potato Casserole.
- Mashed Potatoes.
- Ham.
- Green Bean Casserole.
- Cranberry Jelly.
What are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer. The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie.
How can I make Thanksgiving more healthy? ›
7 ways to make Thanksgiving menu healthier - and taste good too
- Keep your turkey tasty yet low-fat. ...
- When making gravy, skip the flour. ...
- Boost the nutrition in your stuffing. ...
- Enjoy colorful cranberries — with no added sugar. ...
- Fill half your plate with fresh, roasted vegetables. ...
- Skip the creamy casseroles — or lighten them up.
What is the most nutritious Thanksgiving food? ›
Skinless turkey, green salads, and roasted vegetables are some healthier choices that may be on your table. You can make recipes that have flavors of Thanksgiving but are healthier swaps.
What are 3 main foods on Thanksgiving? ›
The 10 Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes
- Roast turkey. We've already filled you in on how to carve a turkey like a chef. ...
- Stuffing. Good stuffing is key to a successful Thanksgiving dinner. ...
- Mashed potatoes. ...
- Green bean casserole. ...
- Corn casserole. ...
- Sweet potato casserole. ...
- Honey-glazed Brussels sprouts. ...
- Cranberry sauce.
What are 4 commonly consumed foods at Thanksgiving other than turkey? ›
Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.
What are the 5 most common sides served on Thanksgiving Day? ›
The Most Popular Thanksgiving Side Dishes in the U.S.
- Mashed Potatoes.
- Stuffing/Dressing. ...
- Mac & Cheese. ...
- Sweet Potatoes/Yams. ...
- Green Bean Casserole. ...
- Root Vegetable Dishes. ...
- Breads. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. ...
- Salads. Allrecipes Magazine. ...
What are essential Thanksgiving dishes? ›
We've broken Thanksgiving dinner down to its essential elements. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes, of course.
What is healthier than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›
Try it out on Thanksgiving by substituting tofu for your turkey. Tofu can be cooked in a variety of flavorful ways and comes with a ton of nutritional benefits including a lot of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B, and protein.
How to make a healthy Thanksgiving plate? ›
Start by filling half your plate with vegetables, then pile one-quarter up with turkey breast, and leave the remaining one-quarter for starchy sides. Here, some more expert-approved guidelines for keeping portions in check this Thanksgiving Day.
The traditional turkey-day feast, replete with fatty, high-cholesterol foods like drumsticks, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing, is generally anything but heart-healthy. Try a healthy roasted turkey and gravy recipe for your Thanksgiving meal.
What is a true Thanksgiving dinner? ›
Senior Editor. November 21, 2011. Traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes but the First Thanksgiving likely included wildfowl, corn, porridge and venison. Bettmann / Corbis.
What are 5 Thanksgiving foods? ›
Most Traditional Thanksgiving Foods. A traditional Thanksgiving meal consists of roast turkey and many sides including stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans and cranberry sauce, with pumpkin pie as dessert.
What is the most popular Thanksgiving side dish? ›
mashed potatoes! Rising from second place in 2022, mashed potatoes take the crown for America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish. Creamy, rich, and comforting, they're the perfect accompaniment to turkey and gravy, so it makes sense that mashed potatoes came out on top.
What are the essential foods for Thanksgiving? ›
We've broken Thanksgiving dinner down to its essential elements. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes, of course.