I’ve done a few posts in the past on Thanksgiving and holiday eating 8 Ways to Bounce Back After an Indulgent Thanksgiving and You Overeat During Thanksgiving Week…Now What? and 5 Thoughts on Holiday Eating and my favorite post on holiday eating is Why I’m Not Writing a “How to Eat Healthy During the Holidays Post”
If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed with holiday eating, hopefully one of the posts above might help you navigate these times. For today’s post I thought it might be fun to highlight how your Thanksgiving Meal might be healthier than you think.
Keep your portions in check, be mindful of the appetizer grazing, and the actual meal itself has a lot of nutritional value.
Turkey is rich in protein and an good source of many vitamins, especially B vitamins. Turkey is also rich in minerals such as selenium, zinc, and phosphorus and contains smaller amounts of magnesium and potassium. A 3 oz portion of skinless turkey breast can provide 25 grams of lean protein. This will help keep you full so you don’t continue to graze on less nutritious sides.
Sweet Potatoes are a loaded with all the good stuff. They are an antioxidant powerhouse, rich in vitamin A and C (immune supporters), contain energizing B vitamins, potassium, and manganese. They are also high in fiber, so this starch won’t spike your blood sugar or insulin levels (unless you load them up with marshmallows ;)) This mashed sweet potato recipe looks amazing.
Cranberry Sauce can be nutritious, but I’m not talking about the canned jelly stuff my husband is obsessed with. Whole cranberries are very nutritious as they offer antibacterial properties, are loaded with inflammation-fighting antioxidants, and a good source of fiber. Try making your own cranberry sauce this year- I love this recipe!
Brussels Sprouts are part of the cruciferous vegetable family and are known for containing high amounts of anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants. Brussels sprouts are also a great source of vitamin C for immunity, vitamin K for bone health, and fiber to keep you full and support digestive health. This shredded brussles sprouts salad with cranberries, pomegranate and walnuts looks so good and would be a great addition to healthify your Thanksgiving meal.
Pumpkin Pie is my favorite kind of pie and lucky for me it has some serious health benefits! Just a half cup of pumpkin puree contains ~ 400% of the daily recommended vitamin A. Vitamin A is important because it acts as a cell-protective antioxidant, supports immunity, eye and skin health, and even brain health. Pumpkin also packs vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. I usually get my pumpkin pie from Whole Foods, but would love to try and make my own one day using this recipe. Also, so good with this whipped cream on top 😉
Wishing you all a Happy and yummy Thanksgiving!
xx, A
