There is nothing wrong with indulging during the holiday season. During these joyous times spent with friends & family, it is part of the fun to eat a holiday cookie or a slice of pie. But with a different holiday event at every turn, those occasional treats begin to add up fast.
What I find most important during the holiday season is finding a balance. Incorporating healthy meals into your regular diet & having healthy options at family functions makes it easier to continue to eat healthy while enjoying the occasional treat. And I personally believe that eating healthy does not need to come at the cost of flavor. In fact, there are plenty of healthy holiday recipes that are just as tasty & won’t leave you feeling bloated after eating.
If you are hosting Thanksgiving or just bringing a dish to your family gathering, check out this recipe round-up for some healthy yet still delicious eating inspiration.
1. For an Appetizer: Cranberry Jalapeño Hot Pepper Jelly
One of my family’s favorite easy appetizers is spicy jam poured over a block of cream cheese & served with crackers. It is so simple to make, & it is always a hit.
Instead of using sugar-laden store-bought jam, keep it festive with this vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, & refined sugar-free Cranberry Jalapeño Hot Pepper Jelly from Monkey & Me Kitchen Adventures. It’s the perfect balance of sweet & tart & will definitely be a hit at your party. Instead of pouring over cream cheese, try serving over a round of brie cheese for a delicious spin. Get the recipe here.
2. For a Healthy Spin on Sweet Potato Casserole: Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
I never know if sweet potato casserole qualifies as a side dish or a dessert, but it is always served with the turkey in my house, so I guess in this case it’s a side dish. This gluten-free & vegan Sweet Potato Casserole recipe from Mindful Avocado has all of the flavor of your traditional sweet dish but it’s so much healthier. This does have a pecan topping, not the traditional marshmallows, but honestly, I love the nuttiness of the pecan streusel so much more. I personally would sub coconut sugar for the brown sugar in this recipe to make it even healthier, but I suppose that’s up to you. Feel free to also sub regular butter for the vegan butter if you are not plant-based or vegan. Get the full recipe here.
3. If You’re Eating Low-Carb, Try This Cauliflower Stuffing
Cauliflower is such a versatile vegetable. You can use it to make dough, in place of mashed potatoes, or just as a yummy snack with hummus. In this recipe, it is used in place of the bread cubes in traditional stuffing. This Cauliflower Stuffing from Wholesome Yum is low-carb, paleo & Keto, making it a great choice if you’re trying to save your carbs for the dessert table. Get the recipe here.
4. For Your Gluten-Free Friends, Try These Soft Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls
It’s not uncommon today to have someone gluten-free sitting at your Thanksgiving table. Luckily, there are so many delicious gluten-free recipes that will please even your most hardcore gluten eaters. And, eating gluten-free tends to be a lower-carb lifestyle, which helps to achieve that healthy holiday balance (save the carbs for the desserts). This Soft Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls from Dish by Dish are also dairy-free, so you’ll make a couple people at the table happy with this dish. Get the recipe here.
5. For a Healthy Spin on Mashed Potatoes, Try These Vegan Mashed Potatoes
Don’t let the name full you! These Vegan Mashed Potatoes from Minimalist Baker are just as creamy as ever thanks to the vegan butter, & they have a delicious flavor from the roasted garlic & fresh chives. No one at your table will ever know the difference. Get the full recipe here.
6. For a Healthier Alternative to a Classic, Try This Healthy Green Bean Casserole Recipe
I love green bean casserole, which is actually funny because I can’t stand green beans. I don’t know what it is about that salty & tangy flavor, but I cannot do a Thanksgiving without this staple. Luckily, this Healthy Green Bean Casserole from Hummusapien has all the flavor I need without adding in processed ingredients like the cream of mushroom soup & french fried onions. Instead, raw cashews give this recipe its creaminess while fresh onion is baked with breadcrumbs & flour for its traditional crispy topping. Feel free to sub coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce, & gluten-free breadcrumbs & gluten-free flour in the topping, for a gluten-free, soy-free recipe. Get the recipe here.
7. For a Healthy Spin on Broccoli Salad, Try This Super Clean Broccoli Salad with Creamy Almond Dressing
Broccoli salad sounds like it would be a healthy dish, but the dressing is normally full of sugar. Instead, try this Super Clean Broccoli Salad with Creamy Almond Dressing from Pinch of Yum. The dressing is vegan, made with a base of orange juice, almond butter, miso paste, & canola oil instead of mayonnaise & sugar. And I love the addition of purple cabbage in the salad for a pop of color & extra crunch. Get the recipe here.
8. For the Person Who Just Has to Have Cranberry Sauce, Try This Homemade Cranberry Sauce with Oranges
I have never liked cranberry sauce from a can. Well, I don’t know if I can actually say that for sure because I have never been able to get past the texture to even begin to think about the taste. But as always, I strongly believe homemade is far better than anything processed. And I think this Cranberry Sauce with Oranges from Healthy Seasonal Recipes is going to convince you of the same. It’s sweet & tart, made with fresh cranberries, apples, & oranges & seasoned with allspice, salt & brown sugar. To make it even healthier, you can sub coconut sugar for the brown sugar. Get the recipe here.
9. For Dessert, Try These No-Bake Pecan Pie Bars
I don’t know if I could choose between pumpkin & pecan pie. Personally, I like to have a slice of each on my plate. And with this healthy recipe, there’s no reason why you can’t have both! These No-Bake Pecan Pie Bars from Purely Kaylie the perfect grab-and-go treat for a crowd, & it’s sweetened naturally with medjool dates instead of sugar! Made with almond flour & oats, this recipe is also the perfect gluten-free & vegan treat for anyone at your party, but don’t think there is any sacrifice in flavor. The layer of homemade salted caramel sauce will convince anyone to come back for seconds. Get the recipe here.
10. And Because No Thanksgiving is Complete without Pumpkin Pie, Here’s a Raw Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Honestly, this Raw Pumpkin Pie recipe from Poosh is pumpkin pie at its finest. The pumpkin flavor is fantastic, & it’s balanced beautifully by the nutty sunflower seed butter that gives the filling its creaminess. The crust is made with almond flour & medjool dates, making this a gluten-free & vegan recipe that is sure to please anyone. I like to use pure maple syrup instead of Keto maple syrup because I prefer to eat natural sugar over sugar alcohols, but if you are adhering to a Keto diet, this recipe is compliant for you, too. Get the recipe here.
What is your favorite healthy Thanksgiving recipe? Leave me a comment below!
