Thanksgiving is equal parts counting our blessings and indulgence. No one questions you when you’ve filled your third plate with stuffing and pumpkin pie, no one bothers to ask why you ate your weight in turkey and chose a nap over a walk, and no one giggles when one of the things you’re thankful for is grandma’s made-from-scratch macaroni and cheese. One place you can avoid the calorie conundrum is to be mindful of your recipes.
1. Choose recipes that are rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein sources.
2. The turkey in-and-of itself is on the list of 14 super foods. So reap all its nutritional benefits and don’t deep fry it or soak it in butter. Use fresh herbs, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic and other seasonings to bring out the tender flavor of the bird.
3. Avoid recipes that call for heavy cream, butter and loads of sugar. Those rich flavors directly correlate to high calories and fat.
4. Keep the house full of fresh veggie and fruit trays, giving people something healthy to snack on and help them to not over indulge in the Thanksgiving buffet.
Here are 17 Thanksgiving recipes we find to be mouth-watering and so delicious. Some are classic favorites with a healthy twist, and others will become new favorites. They will be a perfect addition to your healthier Thanksgiving day spread, or offer some better ideas for leftovers.
Curried Turkey and Cauliflower Soup
