Many times, when I engage in discussions about holidays and healthy eating, people throw their hands up in defense of traditions and the belief that holidays aren’t meant to be healthy. Not true my friends, not true. It’s quite simple to make your Thanksgiving meal delicious and nutritious. Choosing a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be situational.
Let’s start with the bird. Buy the healthiest turkey you can comfortably afford. With local, pasture-raised being the healthiest and conventional (CAFO) being the least, with many options in between. To limit exposure to toxins if you go with conventional, don’t eat the fat or skin, which is where toxins are more concentrated. We like to roast ours, but there are many, many options; bacon-wrapped, fried, stuffed, braised, rubbed, smoked, just to name a few of the most popular.
Next up, dressing. I simply adapted my family’s recipe that has been around for generations and everyone loves it. I like it to have a bit of a crunchy top, so always do it on the side vs. a stuffing. There are many recipes on-line for healthier versions of dressing. Search for grain-free, paleo, or keto recipes. I have not played with many of these yet, so I can’t recommend a particular recipe.
