11 Thanksgiving Swaps That Will Help You Avoid The Dreaded Holiday Bloat
The food that we end up eating around the holidays is usually delicious but often spurs some not-so-desirable side effects like weight fluctuations, ongoing cravings, and energy dips.
Luckily, there are some easy swaps you can make that still allow you to enjoy food that tastes good without paying a price. Here’s what we recommend avoiding:
Gluten
Dairy
Processed sugar
These foods have been shown to be inflammatory and can take the place of more nourishing foods in your diet.
While the recipes below are healthier options, that doesn’t mean they lack flavor. Don’t be surprised when your picky sibling who seems to live off junk food actually asks you for the recipe of one of these.
Appetizers
Appetizers are typically where we get our savory and crunchy goodness prior to the main meal.
Chips & Dip
Cheesy Cashew Dip with a Veggie Plate: We cannot say enough good things about this cashew dip. Cashew cream in general is a great base for a ton of different types of recipes. You can make it savory like this recipe, or turn it into something sweet like cookie dough. The possibilities are endless.
Here are our favorite healthy chip/cracker options:
Savory
Paleo Stuffed Mushrooms: This flavor-packed appetizer is high in protein, which can help satisfy hunger and prevent overeating.
Sweet
Pumpkin Pie Dip with Sliced Apples: This kid (and adult) friendly appetizer truly makes it feel like Thanksgiving with its deep pumpkin pie flavor that pairs perfectly with sliced apples. And just in case you were wondering, yes, even pumpkin spice has health benefits!
Main Meal
Replacing some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes can feel taboo, but these options will leave you feeling just as satisfied as the originals.
Dinner Rolls: What these dinner rolls are missing in carbs, they make up for in flavor. Packed with protein and healthy fats, these rolls hold up to make a sandwich or can be dipped in gravy and eaten alongside your Thanksgiving turkey.
Paleo Stuffing: This is not your typical Thanksgiving stuffing (hello bacon and apples), and we promise it won’t disappoint. Family members will be asking you to bring this dish next year.
Harvest Salad: This seasonally-inspired salad contains all the goodies you would want this time of year — pomegranate seeds, pecans, squash, and a delicious maple balsamic dressing.
Hasselback Potatoes: Not only are these potatoes delicious, but they take much less prep time than your typical potato-based side dish.
Green Bean Casserole (Upgraded): With the combination of cashew cream, green beans, mushrooms, and crispy onions, you’ll never want to eat another green bean casserole again.
Dessert
Holiday desserts can easily derail any plans you had of eating well this time of year. Fortunately, there are a ton of healthy alternatives that can help keep you in balance but still satisfy your sweet tooth.
No Bake Chocolate Caramel Tarts: Do we really need to say more? These tarts don’t require any baking and will be a hit with your loved ones.
Pumpkin Pie Bars: This delicious spin on pumpkin pie will make you question why you’ve never had pumpkin pie in bar form. The crust is made from almond flour and has your traditional pumpkin pie filling, but instead of using milk and sugar, it uses coconut milk and a small amount of pure maple syrup.
Apple Pie Tartlets: Would it really be Thanksgiving without apple pie? That’s why we had to share this unique take on your traditional apple pie. This unique and delicious take on the traditional apple pie is much less time consuming to prepare.
