20 Thanksgiving Recipes for a Balanced, Healthier Holiday Meal

Festivals are the time of the year when we forget about all the struggles and stress of our busy lives and take a pause. Thanksgiving is one such time of the year when we all gear up to celebrate with our family and spend some time together. Amidst the hectic schedule of life, we hardly take care of personal relations and health!

Holidays give us time to connect with our loved ones and ourselves. You might not find the time to indulge in healthy Thanksgiving recipes during busy days but with the holidays around the corner, we feel it is the right moment to celebrate but in a healthy way! Let us find out what are some of the things that you can do to bring your life back on track!

How to invest in a healthy meal during the season of Thanksgiving

The first initiative to a healthy life begins with a healthy outlook! You have to understand although festivals call for you to indulge do it within limits. You can still enjoy great food while also staying within the boundaries of a healthy diet! Wondering how is that possible. Well then let's find out!

How to plan a healthy meal

There are different meals that we have to plan for the day! From breakfast to dinner, the requirements of the appetizers and the main courses vary! Depending on the chores that you are performing every day, it is up to you to choose the right meal! But there are some common guidelines that you can keep in mind! Let's follow them as you plan to make sumptuous Thanksgiving meals.

1. Make sure that half of your plate is filled with veggies and greens- as much as you like or dislike it, there is no way you can escape veggies and greens so might as well accept them the way they are and enhance the flavors so you find it nice to eat. Instead of having the same boring boiled veggies, sprinkle them with seasonings, bake, and make a casserole! If you have the will, there is no way anyone can stop you from enjoying the best!
2. Whole grains are needed too- when you are planning a meal, be it light snacks for the evening or a delicious dinner, do not forget to incorporate some whole grains in it! This includes wheat, barley, wheat berries, quinoa, oats, brown rice, and so on. Why do you need to think about some boring boiled quinoa when you can make amazing pasta dough or pizza with whole grains too? This way even the kids will not complain about the meal.
3. Do not forget about some proteins too- well, how can you complete a meal without some proteins in it? Fish, poultry, and so on, are the main sources of protein but if you are a vegan then plant-based proteins are good for you as well! These include beans, pulses, etc. You can enjoy a refreshing salad during brunch or in the morning if you want! Throw in all the greens and meat and toss them with a cold salad dressing! Pasta salads are quite popular as cold salads are lovely if the season is slightly unpleasant and scorching.
4. Consider the oil in which you are cooking- whenever you need oil for cooking, use canola, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut, and others, and avoid partially hydrogenated oils. The main aim is to discard trans fat from your meal which is present in the latter. Be careful of the kind of grease-like butter you are using! Margarine is a healthier version of the same.

Focus on the quality of the meal rather than the quantity

It has little to do with the quantity of fat you are consuming! If it is bad fat like trans fat then even a little is not good for your health! Hence you should always be focused on the quality of your diet rather than the quantity. For example, the type of carbohydrate is more important than the amount of carbohydrates that go into your body.

Hence when you are preparing a plan for your meal during the festive season, we will urge you to have a clear outlook of the dishes that you are likely to make and consume. Always remember that cooking at home is safer any day than ordering from outside. No matter how healthy these foods claim themselves to be, there are some hidden ingredients that you are not aware of! Cooking in your kitchen gives you the control to monitor and observe the ingredients that go into your dish! So this year celebrate your occasion of Thanksgiving with a conscious heart and mind. Let's learn about the significance of the event now! Shall we?

What is the significance of Thanksgiving?

Before we get into the Thanksgiving recipes that you can make during Thanksgiving let's quickly find out what is the reason behind all the preparations. As we all know, Thanksgiving is a National Holiday in America and Canada but do you know why exactly is this date given such national importance? Well, that is what we are here to find out! Starting in 1622, this is a harvest festival where each one of us is thankful and expresses our gratitude to Mother Earth and her bountiful abundance. Celebrated first by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people, the tradition gloriously lives on even today. Initially, the meal would comprise turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.

This is the time of the year when every family member from all parts of the world comes together to celebrate the occasion.

You will however be intrigued to find out that the Thanksgiving celebration has not provided national importance until Northerners dominated the federal government.

The New England colonists were accustomed to celebrating Thanksgiving with prayers, food, and grand celebration and culture soon spread all across America. They used to thank God for the victory of the military and the end of the droughts. On 3rd October 1863, during the Civil War,  Abraham Lincoln declared National Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated on November 26 every year from then onwards.

Thanksgiving all marks the arrival of the season of Christmas soon after! Shopping for the end of the year officially begins on this day. This also boosts the economy of the states.

So, that is all for now, it seems that all of us are quite hungry and hence we should begin with discussing the healthy Thanksgiving recipes that you can prepare over the Thanksgiving season! Let's find out.

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes - Quick and Easy to Make at Home

1. Honey garlic roasted carrots

The delectable and crunchy carrots are provided with an enhancement of taste with the smooth garlicky essence and the sweetness of honey! Even the kids will not object to these carrots.

2. Honey garlic butter roasted carrots

The butter-roasted carrots are equally tasteful and will introduce you to the flavors of seasonal veggies! Tossed with butter and honey, you can begin your meal on a refreshing note with this healthy treat! Shall we try it out then?

3. Pumpkin risotto with goat cheese

You hardly need to spare a moment to create the dish! Yes, it is true! If you are particularly in the mood to relax then the pumpkin risotto by your side can be the best companion. Drizzled with goat cheese, this is surely a healthy indulgence.

4. Roasted butternut squash and Brussels sprouts with pecan and cranberries

Packed with yummy and healthy content, the bowl of roasted butternut squash is a wonderful creation indeed. Tossed in sauces and adorned with pecan and cranberry, the recipe also adds sprouts to make it the ultimate healthy dish for the holidays!

5. Classic Traditional Thanksgiving stuffing

The classic Traditional Thanksgiving stuffing with breadcrumbs, celery, and herbs recipe is right here so you can enjoy your turkey at its best. Do give it a try for sure!

6. Roasted carrots with candy pecan and goat cheese

Probably Thanksgiving is simply incomplete without carrots! You have to try out this recipe: simple roasted carrots served with sweet candied pecans and goat cheese. Perfect to savor as an appetizer or a side dish.

7. Brussels sprouts and kale with Apple salads! ( with sharp cheddar and bacon)

The recipe speaks for itself! Healthy and delicious, we can guarantee you that there shall be no leftovers when we are talking about this dish. You have never tried something so exciting and flavorful as this with Brussels and kale.

8. Healthy sweet potato casserole with crunchy oatmeal pecan topping

Well, being healthy does not necessarily have to be boring! We have brought this recipe for you to make the sweet potato casserole and then adorn it with oatmeal and pecan! Take a bite and see how tempted you shall be for the second.

9. Healthy cinnamon apples

The cinnamon apples are simply lovely! Soaked in syrup and great to serve for breakfast, we had to tell you about this so you can begin your day on a great note.

10. Rosemary garlic mashed potatoes

Crunchy outside and crispy inside, the mashed potato patty with the infusion of rosemary tastes so divine. What a fantastic idea when you are looking for a vegan appetizer for the meal. Shall we try it then?

11. Maple bacon Brussels sprouts

The sumptuous flavors of the sweet and savory maple bacon sprouts are lovely and flooded with the brilliant taste of succulent meat! Well, there is no other better way to consume Brussels than this one right here. Tell us about it when you cook it this week!

12. Pumpkin cheesecake bars

The pumpkin cheesecake bars are another wonderful seasonal treat that we are sure you do not want to miss out on! Gorgeous and creamy, the crumbly bars with a gooey filling are the most amazing of all kinds.

13. Green bean healthy casserole

If the kids say no to beans all the time and you have no idea how to make them consume it then do not worry we have the perfect solution for you! Healthy and flavorful, the recipe combines the best of both worlds.

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14. Vegan caramelized onion mashed potatoes

The vegan caramelized onions mashed potato although sounds so simple, it is the impact it has upon the taste buds that makes it so distinguished! Enjoy as a side with the main course on the day of Thanksgiving.

15. Turkey cranberry sliders

Sliders are perfect as small bites for the meal! You can begin with a slider or serve it as an appetizer at the gathering! Infused with Worcestershire sauce, cranberry, and parsley, the turkey sliders reach the zenith of flavors with this idea.

16. Easy quinoa stuffing

The idea of quinoa stuffing is simply outstanding and you should give it a try! Easy and a great replacement with bread crumbs, there is everything from herbs to veggies, so you can make it a wonderful treat on the table.

17. Herbs and leek stuffing

The combination of leek, celery, and parsley always works well. We have to say that! If you are making stuffing every year and want to alter the recipe then this idea works best for you. Do give it a try for sure!

18. Thanksgiving wild rice

If you are wondering what goes into this then we have the Thanksgiving wild rice idea for you! Tempting and lovely, there is leek, cranberry, herbs, and rice all packed together. Make a bowl of this rice and that is enough to call a meal!

19. Crockpot glazed carrots

The crockpot glazed carrots are super easy to make and hardly take any time. If you are looking for one more appetizer to the table then you should try out the all amazing carrots glazed in syrup and served fresh!

20. Cinnamon-roasted sweet potatoes and apple

Are you craving something light in the evening? Well, definitely you need to keep space for the main course so we have the cinnamon-roasted sweet potato cubes with small chunks of Apple in a bowl for one to cherish.

Frequently asked questions about making the best and healthy Thanksgiving recipes

1. What is the most important thing about Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is not just a harvest festival! It is also the time of the year when the entire family comes together to celebrate and feast with each other. No matter in which part of the world you are, the occasion brings you back home.

2. What are some of the healthiest ways to prepare a meal?

There are several techniques in cooking that one can use to make a healthy and nutritious meal. These include steam, baking, grilling, microwaving, and so on.

3. How can you create a balanced healthy meal plan?

A balanced diet consists of all the essential nutrients that the body needs for growth and repair. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals should be a part of your meal. Do not forget to add some fibers to it as well.

4. Why are three meals a day essential?

You should indulge in eating from time to time so that the stomach does not remain empty! This can lead to gastrointestinal problems. Instead, invest in portion control! There should be healthy snacks in the middle of the main meals as well.

5. What is the healthiest drink to consume during the holidays?

Coffee and tea can be served to the guests when they show up in the evening but you must avoid adding any artificial sweetener. Other refreshing fruity drinks can also be included on the sides.

Bottom Line-

Thanksgiving recipes do not have to be unhealthy and devoid of nutrition to be delicious. With a few simple adjustments to traditional recipes, you can create dishes that are both tasty and healthy. The key is to focus on using ingredients with a high nutritional value, like fresh vegetables and lean meats, and avoid processed items as much as possible. Additionally, replacing high-calorie ingredients with healthier alternatives, like subbing yogurt for cream, can help make a dish more nutritious without sacrificing flavor. Your creativity in the kitchen is all you need to prepare a delicious and healthy Thanksgiving feast for your family and friends. After all, as the late Julia Child famously said, "People who love to eat are always the best people!"