3 Easy Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is coming soon! Will you slap me if I ask what you’ve got planned for Thanksgiving dinner? Probably. I deserve it. You’ve got a tons of time left to figure it out. No worries; you can do this!

Sure, you could do the traditional fare of mashed potatoes, gravy, canned cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and boxed stuffing. But why not spice it up a bit with a few dishes that are easy to cook and a click higher on the “healthy” scale?

I know what you are thinking:

• Why mess with tradition?
• The family will revolt!
• There will be cranky seniors and crying toddlers all because I wanted to try something new.

If you must, give these recipes a try before the big day. Then tell us how much you loved them!

Sauteed Greens with Raisins

I promise you that the raisins make ALL the difference in this dish! This is one of my most popular recipes!
4 servings

Ingredients

1 ½ bunches of greens (kale, collards, beet greens chard, or mustard greens)
1 T. olive oil
½ t. sea salt
¼ cup pine nuts
1/3 cup raisins

1. Toast pine nuts on a cookie sheet in a 325 degree oven for 5 minutes. Set aside.
2. Wash and chop greens. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add greens, sea salt, and raisins. Stir and cook 5 minutes – just enough for greens to wilt.
3. Add pine nuts and transfer to serving dish. TIP:  sprinkle with lemon juice before serving.

RELATED: Beans and Greens recipe (another great vegetarian option)

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

My kids aren’t fans of mashed anything so this recipe has been a great addition to our fall food favorites.
4 servings

Ingredients

3 large sweet potatoes or yams, sliced in ½” thick circles
2 T. olive oil or coconut oil
Cinnamon to taste
raw sugar or sucanat (for added sweetness, optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Chop the potatoes and put in a large bowl
3. Toss potatoes with olive oil or coconut oil*. Place them in a baking dish – I use two 8″ or one 9×13″ dish. Sprinkle cinnamon and optional sugar on top!
4. Bake until soft, approximately 20 – 25 minutes

*If you use coconut oil, you can scoop out the amount into your baking dish and pop it in the oven to melt it. Then you can toss your potatoes right in the pan. Otherwise, heat up some water and put your coconut oil container in the hot water to melt it. It melts pretty quickly!

RELATED: What’s the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?

Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding Parfait

For a dessert that is amazing, yet completely full of nature’s goodness, you have got to try this recipe: Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding Parfait. What’s in it that’s so great? The combination of pumpkin, almond milk, and spices is like a creamy cool fall breeze on your tongue. I would love to say I came up with this masterpiece on my own, but I must give credit to Oh She Glows for this creation.

Well, what’s the verdict? Wacky, weird, or WONDERFUL? These new dishes at your Thanksgiving will surely be conversation pieces and most likely new family favorites. Either way, the stress will be over, and the preparation will be well worth it. The whole day will have been as easy as Pumpkin Chia Pie!

Looking for more resources?

 

Follow Frugal Living NW on Pinterest!

Fantastic range of boards from best recipes and tips for frugal living to gardening and budgeting help.

This post may contain affiliate links. See the disclosure policy for more information.