Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Thanksgiving has become a holiday centered around food... lots and lots of food. If you want to feed your family well without clogging their (and your) arteries, you've come to the right place. Below is a sample Thanksgiving Dinner menu with links to healthy versions of the traditional classics.

• Turkey - No Thanksgiving spread is complete without a turkey. Start things off right by roasting your turkey, stuffed with herbs and lemon halves, according to this healthy Thanksgiving turkey recipe.


• Stuffing - Use a low-fat stuffing recipe and bake your stuffing separately, instead of inside the turkey, to avoid soaking up the fat in the meat. It's also a nice gesture in case there are any vegetarians in the group... Just because you don't eat meat doesn't mean you shouldn't get to enjoy the stuffing!


• Mashed potatoes - Make your mashed potatoes with unsweetened evaporated skim milk for a creamy texture without the fat, and try adding a little bit of nonfat sour cream to replace the butter. Season them up with plenty of garlic and salt, and you'll never miss the cream!


• Gravy - Instead of using turkey drippings (pure animal fat) to make your gravy, use a low-fat gravy recipe with fat-free broth and poultry seasoning.
  
• Sweet potato casserole - Traditional sweet potato casseroles are packed with butter, but if you're watching your saturated fat intake, try the low-fat sweet potato casserole recipe at that page.


• Pumpkin pie - The ultimate autumn dessert, this is a must-have on your Thanksgiving dinner menu. So make it the healthy way with a low-fat pumpkin pie recipe. (Also on that page: low-fat apple pie, sweet potato pie, and pecan pie recipes, in case you're feeling ambitious.)


• Spiced cider - Warm your guests (21 and over) with the sweet taste of this spiced apple cider recipe or another one of the other traditional hot winter drinks listed. For the kids, set aside a portion of the cider before you add the brandy, and everyone's happy.

Preparing a Thanksgiving spread is daunting enough without the added worry of the dietary restrictions of yourself and your family and friends. Cut that stress out of the picture by using the tips and recipes above, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!