7 Thanksgiving Recipes for Healthy People Who Love to Eat

Scouring the interwebs for Thanksgiving recipes? You’re not alone.

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your home or bringing a dish to someone else’s, you either whip out the family cookbook and make the same dishes your grandma used to make OR you fire up your google search for the perfect Thanksgiving recipe.

But this isn’t so easy when you’re a healthy eater with a healthy diet, is it? Almost every recipe calls for items you don’t normally keep in your pantry, and you aren’t used to using that many sticks of butter in a single year, nevermind a single meal.

I’m all about indulging…but in a conscious manner and the right way. So if you wanna have a healthy Thanksgiving this year, then you came to the right place.

Whip up these 7 Thanksgiving recipes for the most delicious, healthy, happy Turkey Day feast you’ve had to date.

7 Thanksgiving Recipes for Healthy People Who Love to Eat:

Pilgrim Salad

This slightly sweet and crunchy salad is loaded with nutrients. Walnuts are a great source of vitamin E, an important antioxidant that keeps our cells strong and healthy. They’re also packed with protein and linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help keep you sharp by protecting against memory loss. The olive oil plays a role aside from tasting good – the healthy fat helps your body absorb vitamins A and K found in the greens! I know you know greens are good for many reasons but just a reminder here that they even contain minerals like calcium and iron. Get the recipe

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

These aren’t the mushy, flavorless sprouts you fed to your dog as a child! Brussels sprouts contain many vital nutrients and when done right, they often convert Brussel haters into lovers. Brussels sprouts help regulate digestive function due to all that fiber and they are a rich source of vitamin C with around 50% more vitamin C than your average orange. Get the recipe

Garlic and Lemon Haricots Verts

Green beans may not seem like a glamorous veggie, but combined with garlic and lemons they make a seriously yummy, savory side dish. These beans are chock full of antioxidants, including carotenoids which fight free-radicals, vitamin C for a healthy immune system, and fiber, which helps keep our digestive system healthy and helps lowers cholesterol. Garlic not only give this dish flavor but also boosts your immune system, fights cancer and prevents infection. Bam! Get the recipe

Whipped Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potatoes are a winter staple that can satisfy the strongest sweet tooth. And, without a doubt, one of my top 3 winter foods. These tasty tubers are higher in fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamin C than white potatoes. They’re also packed vitamin A, one of your skins bff’s. Vitamin A plays a big role in producing new skin cells and shedding worn cells, as well as defending the body against free radicals that may lead to wrinkles. Craving this now? Get the recipe

Thanksgiving Turkey

Grab a serving of this holiday staple and grab an excellent source of lean protein. Just one 3.5 ounce serving contains 30 grams of protein, to help you fill up (protein is super satisfying) but not out. It’s also a good source of B vitamins and iron to keep you energetic and strong long after the meal and into Black Friday shopping. Spices are key to any dish not just for flavor but for a healthy dose of antioxidant goodness with virtually no cals. Get the recipe

Wild Rice & Bulgur Stuffing

If you’re over traditional bread stuffing, try this updated recipe for some serious texture and flavor. Bulgur and wild rice are hearty, delish and loaded with fiber (white bread stuffing can’t come close to saying that!). Celery isn’t just a crunchy filler food, it contains fiber and is also known to have a compound that lowers the concentration of stress hormones in your blood. We can all use that. Parsley looks pretty and may help flush out excess bloat. Sounds good to me. Want in? Get the recipe

Pumpkin Soufflé

Pumpkin’s gorgeous orange hue comes from beta-carotene, a cancer-fighting antioxidant that also promotes healthy vision and builds immunity. Toss in some cinnamon (known help reduce stress) and you just may have your new go-to holiday dish. Get the recipe