The Healthy Side of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is around the corner. While the roasted turkey and ham are usually OK to enjoy. The traditional sides (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole) are high in calories. This year, make sure there are plenty of healthy alternatives to put on your plate and share with your family.
Roasted Vegetable Chips
When you’re munching before the meal, vegetable chips are a great way to cut calories and fat! If you’re invited to a party, bring along these guilt-free, healthy snacks. You can use kale, zucchini, squash, or even green beans. Season as desired, coat with olive oil, and bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until crisp.
Pumpkin Casserole
Skip the potatoes, sweet and white, this year, and enjoy pumpkin casserole instead. Pumpkin is a versatile vegetable and, with about 50 calories per ½ cup, pumpkin is a favorite choice of health enthusiasts. Packed with flavor and essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamin C, and carotene, pumpkin is a perfect choice for the holiday dinner table. For the casserole, you’ll need 1 (15-oz) can pumpkin, 1 large egg, 1 Tbsp Splenda® brown sugar blend, 2 Tbsp margarine, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, ½ tsp cinnamon, and ⅛ tsp salt. For the topping, you’ll combine ¼ cup pecans, 1 Tbsp Splenda®, 1 Tbsp margarine, and 2 oz Whey Protein Shake (vanilla). Blend the casserole ingredients, pour into baking dish, and top with nut crumble. Bake in an oven set at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.
Almond Green Beans This easy side goes perfectly with turkey. You’ll need 3 cups steamed green beans, 2 tsp olive oil, ¼ tsp lemon pepper, 4 Tbsp sliced almonds, and ½ tsp garlic powder. Sauté all ingredients in pan and serve hot.
Crustless Pumpkin Pie Pie gets most of its calories and fat from the crust. The best way to cut calories is to skip the crust or use fat-free ingredients. To make this pie, you’ll need 1 (15-oz) can pumpkin,1 tsp vanilla extract, ¼ tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 8 oz fat-free cream cheese, 1 large egg, 1 cup Egg Beaters® Original, and 1 cup Splenda®, granulated. Blend ingredients well and pour into muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be an exhaustive examination of the subject matter nor a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your primary care physician or healthcare provider before beginning any diet or exercise program.