Forget the parade, football games, and inevitable squabbles with family members. For most people, the ultimate Thanksgiving tradition is the menu. Stuffing? Check. Mashed potatoes with lumps? Check. Great aunt Edna’s pumpkin pie? Check.
But, you’ve probably noticed—after decades of food comas and holiday weight gain, that is—that our favorite Thanksgiving tradition isn’t the healthiest one. (OK, the turkey is healthy, but pretty much every other dish is a bust.) So this year, break from tradition with these seven healthy and delicious Thanksgiving recipes. They’ll leave you wondering why you ever ate those Thanksgiving “staples” in the first place.
Baby Pumpkins Stuffed with Pear, Walnuts, and Cinnamon
Kuri squash moonlight as baby pumpkins in this creative recipe that will make every person’s plate look like a work of art. Bonus: You can prepare them one to two days ahead of time, wrap them in foil, and then just pop them in the oven on Turkey day.
Recipe courtesy of AskGeorgie.com
Fully-Loaded Hi-Protein Cauliflower Mash
Take mashed potatoes to the next level by swapping out spuds for cauliflower and butter and cream for Greek yogurt. Fewer grams of carbs and fat, way more protein.
Sweet Potato Hummus with Cinnamon Flatbread
Seriously, you can’t go wrong with this fiber- and flavor-packed app, combining sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and tons of fall-inspired spices. Just try not to fill up before dinner.
Recipe courtesy of Delish Knowledge
Roasted Beet Salad with Yogurt and Arugula
A salad on Thanksgiving? It’s a novel approach, we know. But this salad, combining baked beets with spice-infused Greek yogurt, slivered almonds, and arugula, feels so decadent that it might not even qualify as a salad.
Recipe courtesy of Man Fuel Blog
Curried Sweet Potato Crab Soup
Crab and curry give this fall soup an exotic twist, while shellfish stock and a ton of veggies keep it completely guilt free.
Recipe courtesy of What’s Cooking with Doc
Pumpkin Bites with Maple Glaze
No Thanksgiving meal would be complete without a pumpkin dessert. And these pumpkin bites—with a generous helping with pumpkin, oats, spices, and maple syrup—hit the spot without wrecking your waistline.
Recipe courtesy of Pinch of Yum
Leftover Turkey and Wheat Berry Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Skip the Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches for a turkey salad. With pecans, apples, wheat berries, parsley, cranberry vinaigrette, crumbled bleu cheese, and, of course, leftover turkey, it might just be your new favorite Black Friday tradition.
Recipe courtesy of fANNEtastic Food