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Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the colors, scents, and most of all the food. I have always had a traditional Thanksgiving with all the trimmings. I have been a Trim Healthy Mama for 5 years now. This time of year I sometimes begin to miss the traditional recipes, but with each passing year I have an increased realization and assurance that natural and healthy eating is the only way to live.
Trim Healthy Mama is NOT a diet. It is a lifestyle, a journey to health. I was feeling great and was having no symptoms of my SVT or hormonal imbalance. I didn’t want to regress. I knew if I ate those scrumptious (but unhealthy) Thanksgiving foods, I would spend my holidays battling illness and fatigue. However, my taste buds really wanted the traditional menu and my sweet grandmama’s recipes.
I prayed about it, and God was so faithful to show me some alternatives that tasted just as just as good. I want to encourage you–you don’t have to cheat on Thanksgiving. Unhealthy food is not a “treat” for your body. When we succumb to this temptation, we are actually doing our bodies a great disservice. You don’t have to give in to temptation, because there are other options. Today I am sharing with you my menu for a traditional Thanksgiving the Trim Healthy Mama Way.
Turkey – This is our favorite turkey recipe from Food Network: Good Eats Turkey, but you could really use any simple roasted turkey recipe with seasoning and aromatics. Beware of turkey glazes, pre-marinated or glazed turkeys. You have no idea what is in the ingredients.
Dressing – Make this paleo cornbread muffin recipe from Empowered Sustenance: Paleo Cornbread, cool cornbread and then crumble or chop in chopper. Then follow the recipe below to make delicious THM dressing.
- 6 cups crumbled paleo cornbread
- 2 eggs
- 2 ounces melted butter
- 1 cups onion, chopped
- 1 cups finely chopped celery
- 2-3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 tbsp dried sage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together. Bake in greased rectangular baking dish for 30 minutes.
Sweet “Potato” Casserole – If you want to lose weight even on Thanksgiving, try this recipe that tastes JUST like sweet potatoes without crossing over your fuels of fat and carbs. However, if you don’t mind crossing over (which inhibits weight loss but is still on plan). you could use any sweet potato casserole recipe just omit any ingredients with sugar like marshmallows, brown sugar, etc. Sub sweet blend instead.
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1/3 c. softened Butter
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup butter
- 16 oz bag cauliflower
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- pinch of nutmeg
Steam cauliflower. Using a food processor, gently pulse cauliflower to make it a little smaller, about the size of macaroni noodles. On stove or in microwave melt butter, cream and 1 cup of cheese. Mix well and add remaining ingredients. Bake in greased baking pan on 350 for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Cranberry Sauce – This is an amazingly delicious recipe for cranberry sauce: Laundry Moms Cranberry Red Sauce.
You must have more than one dessert! So here are a few of my favorites:
Layered Chocolate Cheesecake topped with Ganache
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!