A Cornucopia of Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

To most people, the holidays mean making great memories, being with family and friends, and enjoying life to the fullest. However, this can also mean embracing bad habits, such as eating poorly balanced meals. In order to stay on the winning side of the Thanksgiving eating battle, here are some healthy Thanksgiving recipes and tips you can use to make those traditional dishes taste exceptional without adding all of the guilt. Enjoy your wellness plan while cooking these delicious healthy Thanksgiving recipes.

Brined Turkey

1. • Roasting a turkey is no easy feat. But a perfectly moist slice of turkey is the capstone to any Thanksgiving feast. Using a brine before you roast your turkey ensures that flavor penetrates every area of the bird. Brining can save you from eating the skin (which is the part of the turkey with the most calories and fat) and instead choosing healthier parts of the turkey, such as the breast, to eat for Thanksgiving dinner. Here is a simple and easy way to brine a turkey for Thanksgiving.
   • Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 12 hours Total time: 12 hours 10 mins
   • Ingredients
     • 1 tablespoon black peppercorn or black pepper
     • 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
     • 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
     • 3 bay leaves
     • 4 – 6 cloves of garlic (or 3 tablespoons)
     • 6 cups of water
     • ½ cup of light brown sugar (packed) or regular sugar
     • ½ cup kosher salt
   • Instructions
     • Peel the rosemary off of the steam and dice a few of them to get the oils from the leaves.
     • Add all the ingredients to a large sauce pan and bring it to a boil. This allows all the sugars and salts to combine and dissolve.
     • Allow it to cool.
     • Add the defrosted turkey to a large poultry bag or cooler (like I did) and add the cooled turkey brine mixture.
     • Add a bag of ice over the turkey to allow it to stay cool for the next 12+ hours. Or put your poultry bag in the refrigerator if you have room.
     • For each pound of meat you should refrigerate it for one hour. For example, if you have a 12 lb turkey, you need to refrigerate this for 12 hours. Add ice to the cooler if needed.
     • Remove the turkey from the brine recipe and bake it as directed on the package.

Rosemary & Garlic Mashed Faux-Tatoes (Cauliflower)

1. • Cut out the extra carbs that come along with regular potatoes and substitute cauliflower. Not only does this recipe take less time than traditional mashed potatoes, it is just as creamy and delicious everyone’s favorite side dish. An extra step you can take to make this dish even healthier is to use greek yogurt instead of cream cheese. This adds protein so you can fill up faster and eat less calories overall.
   • Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 40 minutes
   • Ingredients
     • 1 large cauliflower, chopped into small florets
     • 3 ounces low fat cream cheese
     • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
     • 1 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (sauteed if you aren’t buying it already prepared)
     • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped into small pieces
   • Instructions
     • Bring a medium pot of water to boil. Once boiling, cook the cauliflower for 8-10 minutes or until fork tender. Remove and drain cauliflower.
     • Place cauliflower along with all other ingredients into a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy.
     • Garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary

Roasted Balsamic Onions

1. • Roasting onions with balsamic vinegar will make your whole house smell delectable. In addition, roasted onions are a low calorie food that tastes great alongside a turkey.
   • Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 45 – 90 minutes Total time: Around 120 minutes
   • Ingredients
     • Onions (pick your favorite kind! But if they are large, cut them into quarters)
     • Olive Oil
     • Good balsamic vinegar
     • Salt & Pepper
   • Instructions
     • Place onions onto a baking sheet after cutting off the ends and cleaning the skin away. (If the onions are very large, quarter them.)
     • Drizzle onions with balsamic vinegar & olive oil. Enough to make sure they are covered, not too much so they are drowning. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
     • Put into a 400 degree F oven and roast until onions are tender. Make sure to watch so that the vinegar doesn’t burn.