As many of us prepare to kick off the holiday season, it can be hard to strike a balance between indulging in holiday foods and remaining conscious of our health goals. We're not saying this is the time for a crash diet or unneccesary food restriction for the sake of your waist. Rather, this is the perfect time to seek balance and enjoy the foods you love!
Eating has always had a huge social, cultural attachment. We join together to share a meal in celebration, in mourning, and for so many reasons in between. That being said, it can be difficult to navigate the holidays when you have food allergies or are working hard on changing your lifestyle to improve your health. Therefore, we'd like to share some of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes that are healthy alternatives to some of the traditional foods that may not be accessible to you or a loved one right now.
Appetizers + Brunch
Want to make a breakfast that wows? This Spinach Quiche with Bacon, Mushrooms, and Onions is an umami bomb that will tide you over until the main event.
These Paleo Pumpkin and Carrot Muffins are perfect for your brunch spread or as part of a breakfast on the go!
Wow your guests with some Prosciutto-Wrapped Sweet Potatoes. These are roasted, then finished with a maple balsamic glaze. We dare you to only eat one or two!
Drinks
Pair your breakfast with this Pumpkin Spice Coconut Latte for all the warm cozy feelings. Double or triple the recipe and share!
This Cranberry Pomegranate Mocktail gets its probiotic punch from ginger kombucha.
Mulled Apple Cider - with or without alcohol - is a warm and festive holiday drink.
Dairy-Free Eggnog? Yes, it exists! And it's delicious!
This Rosemary Pear Sparkler can be made with sparkling wine or an N/A alternative. Either way, it's a showstopper, especially with a rosemary sprig garnish.
Sides
This Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad with Asian Slaw might not be traditional, but it's a great way to add some green to your holiday table with a dish that everyone will love.
This Fall Harvest Salad is full of nutrients thanks to ingredients like kale, brussels sprouts, squash, beets, pomegranate arils, and walnuts. Topped with a tahini maple dressing, it's a great complement to roasted turkey or chicken.
This naturally-sweetened Cranberry Sauce is a far cry from the jarred stuff. Don't skip the orange zest, it adds the most incredible flavor!
Sweet Potato Casserole is always a crowd-pleaser, and this Whole 30-approved version doesn't disappoint! You might even love it more than your grandma's recipe ;).
Brighten up your holiday table with this beautiful, refined sugar-free Winter Citrus Salad.
Maple Glazed Acorn Squash is simple to make and a naturally sweet side that's perfect for any dinner.
These Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls use a few specialty ingredients, like sorghum flour, millet flour, and tapioca starch, but they promise to be the softest, dreamiest GF yeast rolls you'll ever eat!
Mains
This Rosemary Roasted Turkey is a simple and beautiful centerpiece for your holiday table.
Love smoked turkey? This recipe teaches you the process from start to finish, resulting in a moist and flavorful main course your relatives will be talking about for weeks!
Turkey not your thing? This Orange-Glazed Ham is an absolute showstopper.
A 5-ingredient marinade makes this Baked Pork Tenderloin melt-in-you-mouth juicy and delicious!
Dessert
These Pumpkin Spice Macaroons are dairy- and gluten-free, and they come together so quickly!
Want a dessert you can eat for breakfast too? This Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake complete with a cinnamon crumb topping and optional glaze uses real ingredients and checks all the boxes. Who doesn't love cake for breakfast?
Don't be skeptical of the idea of a dairy-free cheesecake. This Vegan Caramel Cheesecake delivers ALL the flavor with none of the gut-wrenching ingredients in a standard cheesecake. The trick is to soak the raw cashews overnight, then blend them with the remaining cheesecake ingredients to create a rich and dreamy flavor and texture.
If you're looking for a gluten-free pie crust recipe, this is the one you want!
Speaking of pie, this Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie recipe is also dairy-free and is sure to please.
Well, at this point our mouths are watering and we're guessing yours are too. We hope you've found some recipes you'll come back to year after year, and that your holiday tables are filled with the food and people you love most. Cheers!