Delicious & Mindful Thanksgiving Ideas

We invite you to join us this Thanksgiving as we pause to give thanks for those things that are most important in our lives.   Relax and take time away from the stressors of your life.  Enjoy time with loved ones, watch some football, and go ahead – enjoy that Thanksgiving meal!

Did you know that the average American consumes about 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving day? By being mindful of why, what & how we are eating, we can avoid that statistic while still enjoying all the abundance that Thanksgiving has to offer! Here are a few ideas to help you fully enjoy your Thanksgiving without the guilt.

Slow down –  take the time to enjoy your meal. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that your stomach is full. Start with smaller portions, and take plenty of time in between bites for conversation. Take the time to really savor and appreciate the smell, taste and texture of each bite, and compliment Aunt Sue on her new adventurous side dish that she brought this year. Don’t worry – you’ll still have plenty of time to catch the Thanksgiving football games!

Appetizers – For many, it is a tradition to gather around the table for appetizers on Thanksgiving day. It is a wonderful time to nibble on snacks, catch up, and relish memories with family and friends. Here are a few of our favorite choices for the appetizer table:

Shrimp & cocktail sauce – Shrimp is filled with heart healthy Omega-3, and that cocktail sauce offers a healthy dose of polyphenols. If the cocktail sauce is homemade – even better! Homemade versions are often made with less sugar.

The beautiful colors of the cornucopia – enjoy the beautiful colors of the orange and yellow peppers, green broccoli and snap peas, and sweet red cherry tomatoes. They offer a satisfying crunch. Pair with a low fat dip like hummus or fat-free ranch.

Warm up with soup – Butternut Squash soup is a delicious way to warm up. We also love leek and parsley soup. Wake up your taste buds with this recipe.

Dinner – We love taking a few moments to have everyone around the table share what they are thankful for. Saying these things out loud and hearing it from others will send positive energy around the table and release feel good serotonin – which will help to bust away holiday stress.  Enjoy your time and enjoy your meal with these good for your options:

Sweet potatoes – these are filled with vitamin A and polyphenols. Avoid sweet potatoes topped with sugary marshmallows – instead, opt for sweet potatoes topped with crunchy walnuts.  Their natural sweetness may just satisfy your sweet tooth for dessert!

 Turkey – Enjoy your lean meat today. Watch your portion sizes. We love this recipe for a lemon-garlic turkey with high flavor and low sodium from EatingWell.com.

Roasted root vegetables – Looking for a dish to bring? Drizzle root vegetables such as carrots, shallots, potatoes, beets, and parsnips with canola oil, a dash of seasoned salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, or until tender. Top with toasted walnuts for a beautiful, delicious, and healthy side dish.

Green bean casserole – use a fat free cream of mushroom soup for this year’s green bean casserole, and top with crumbled wheat crackers instead of fried onions. Or, stir fry green beans with canola oil and a little turkey bacon for another delicious green bean dish. Use additions such as onions, shallots, and garlic to add flavor instead of high fat additions such as full-fat cream soups.

What is your favorite holiday dish? We’d love to hear! Share your ideas with our Facebook community, and join us to read other’s favorite holiday dishes – you may just find a new recipe idea to bring to this year’s Thanksgiving celebration.

Words of Wisdom

If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.