My favorite family Thanksgiving dishes *reimagined* (mashed, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie) yummm 😋

Thanksgiving is the best food holiday of the year; don’t you agree?

Sure, Christmas is great with your classic standing rib roast/rack of lamb/festive decorated dishes, but Thanksgiving takes the cake because it’s a holiday that’s…

ALL ABOUT THE FOOD!

This year, many of you have made a huge change in your eating habits…. you’ve gone low sugar, fresh, real, whole foods. Our Health Center families have made significant dietary adjustments that have completely transformed what they serve on their tables (I’m so proud of you)! They are now eating more of a whole foods diet - one that is lower in processed foods, carbohydrates, and sugar.

It’s been going fantastic, but I’m hearing from some that they are concerned when planning this year’s Thanksgiving meal. They are worried that Thanksgiving wouldn’t be… Thanksgiving. 

If you’re in the same boat, or are looking for some fabulous old-fashioned tasting dishes, don’t worry! In today’s newsletter, I’ll share some of my favorite *reimagined* Thanksgiving recipes… all with fewer carbs and fewer grams of sugar. YES, I’ve tried them all and I serve them to my own guests without even having to tell them that they are healthy.

Before we get started, I hope you enjoyed last week’s newsletter on “DIY Headache Relief ”. These techniques won’t work as well as a spinal adjustment, but hopefully they will give you some relief until we open up again after the weekend, holiday, or while you are on vacation. If you missed it, you can access it using this link, here.

OK, let’s get you ready for the best FOOD holiday of the year! This will give you plenty of time to do your shopping, plus you can make many of these dishes ahead of time so you can spend more time with your family and friends 🦃🥧🍎 Enjoy!

THANKSGIVING SALAD

Every year, I include a nice Thanksgiving salad to our table. It’s become a tradition in our house; one that every crowd thanks me for each year. Add a fresh, vibrant salad to lighten up all of the buttery mashed, savory veggies, and gravy covered turkey. I think you’ll enjoy this combination of fresh mixed greens, festive fruit, crunchy nuts, salty cheese, and zesty vinaigrette in this Thanksgiving Salad. Make sure to cut the cheese in large enough pieces and place them on the perimeter of the dish so that those wanting a dairy-free salad can pick them out…

MAINS

Thanksgiving turkey is almost always the star of the show for Thanksgiving dinner. I typically brine my turkey in a salty water bath before slathering it with a herbed butter and popping it in the oven to roast. To be honest, rather than typing out the directions, just head on over to one of my favorite websites, Wholesome Yum. They’ve got the perfect recipe, access the link Here!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS EASY ROASTED THANKSGIVING TURKEY RECIPE

• Moist, tender meat

• Perfectly crispy skin

• Garlicky herb butter flavor

• Simple ingredients

• 10 minutes active prep time

• All the tips you need for brining and roasting the best Thanksgiving turkey recipe

Looking for a vegetarian main to add to your list of Thanksgiving recipes? Check out the stuffed acorn squash recipe below. It’s the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving feast. It will be a flavorful and delicious entrée for everyone to indulge in!

STUFFING / DRESSINGS

This stuffed acorn squash recipe is the perfect healthy recipe for the fall season! It’s so simple to make, it’s vegan, grain free, gluten free and low carb! Oh, and it tastes just like Thanksgiving all in about 30 minutes time! Access the link Here!

If you are like my family, they want a more traditional dressing and a stuffed turkey. We use a nut recipe (with some sweet mild sausage, diced Granny Smith apples, raw sliced mushrooms, and a few dried cranberries added in). Use the link Here for the stuffing base, and add things to experiment. The cranberries add a nice touch of color 🍎

THE MASHED

Okay, many people just can’t do Thanksgiving without their mashed potatoes and gravy! We have served several alternatives to the potato, with wonderful success. Hey, maybe it all has to do with the gravy we use to smother it with, LOL. Just kidding, but gravy certainly doesn’t hurt!

Mashed cauliflower can taste almost identical to regular mashed potatoes but has a much lower glycemic index per serving! With the right ingredients, they can be creamy, buttery, and fluffy, you'd never guess that these cauliflower mashed potatoes are healthier for you. We’ve used this recipe for years.

Another mashed recipe that is wonderful uses rutabaga! Wow, it’s recently become my favorite. Rutabaga gives a smooth thick mash than cauliflower in my opinion. Try it out here.

Here’s the recipe we use for the best tasting gravy ever! This gravy only takes five minutes to make, has less than 1 carb per serving, and can be made with beef, chicken or veggie broths, turkey drippings, or bouillon cubes. You’ll love how quickly this savory, thick gravy comes together.

CRANBERRIES

Cranberries are loaded with vitamin C and are full of bacteria blocking benefits to guard against UTIs, ulcers, and gum disease. So enjoy a couple of tablespoons with your Thanksgiving meal.

You can always make make your cranberry dish a couple of days ahead of time, and they’re SUPER easy to make!

Here’s one of the best orange cranberry relish recipes we’ve enjoyed over the years. Serve it as a side, slathered on turkey leftovers, or even on top of your yummy cheesecake!

If you are a cranberry sauce lover instead, try this cranberry saucerecipe for a better alternative to the sugar packed store bought nasty ones!

Want something different? We’re trying this exciting Jalapeño cranberry sauce for a fun twist this year!

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Looking for a sweet potato casserole recipe with NO added sugar? We’ve got you covered. No one will miss the extra sugar in this healthier take on the classic Thanksgiving side dish. You’ve got to try this Mashed Sweet Potato recipe with a yummy nutty topping.

Why is this Recipe is Best?

• Skipping the added sugar lets the natural flavor of sweet potatoes shine through in this recipe.

• It’s topped with pecans and cinnamon (and a sugar substitute), just like traditional sweet potato casseroles.

• Sweet potatoes are full of potassium and fiber, making them a nourishing addition to your Thanksgiving meal.

• Unlike traditional recipes, this sweet potato casserole won’t give you a sugar crash!

This easy side dish is a figure at Thanksgiving and holiday celebrations. But to be honest, we eat it about every month of the year. This baked combination of sweet potatoes, butter and seasonings never goes out of season!

FABULOUS SIDES

Say goodbye to those mushroom soup recipes and try some nice clean veggie dishes. Your guests will thank you, trust me!

Fresh and flavorful, green beans are always a favorite for Thankgiving. They can be roasted, or sautéed last minute. Here’s a simple, tasty green bean recipe we always use.

It's surprising really, how high-heat roasting turns almost any vegetable into a crispy, caramelized delicacy. It's true for this Roasted Carrots recipe too!

Brussels sprouts recipes have really gained in popularity over the past 10 years or so. Where they used to a veggie you seldom heard about, you'll now often times see them listed as a side dish at steak houses and other restaurants. They are super easy to make! Follow this air fryer Brussel Sprout recipe.

Another easy side dish that will add some color to your table is roasted radishes. Once they are roasted, the radishes lose that peppery bite; what a nice surprise! We’ve started eating these on a regular basis due to the affordability and they are easy to find in the produce section any time of the year. Here’s an easy recipe for Roasted Radishes with pearl onions.

PUMPKIN PIE

With a flaky, buttery, almond flour crust and creamy pumpkin filling that's spiced to perfection, this sugar-free Pumpkin Pie recipe has you covered during the holidays. Not only is this homemade pumpkin pie keto-friendly, low-carb and gluten-free, but it's also dairy-free! And no one will ever guess.

If dairy isn’t an issue for your family, here’s a great Pumpkin Pie recipe that we’ve used prior to finding the one listed above.

Also, keep in mind that it’s not always necessary to make your pumpkin pie with a crust. Most people actually prefer the filling the most anyway!

The Bottom Line

Gosh, I do love this holiday! There have been such wonderful memories of food and family gatherings. Don’t let Thanksgiving stress you out. Share these recipes with those folks joining you for dinner, and have them bring one of these recipes too!

So, there you go, I’ve given you no less than (17) holiday recipes (plus lots of additional links within each recipe) that you can make and serve “guilt-free” on your family table this Thanksgiving. Of course, portions do matter! But keep in mind that these recipes taste fantastic with all the Thanksgiving holiday flavors you have come to expect, and are healthy when made with fresh organic ingredients.

In case you are worried about what and how to eat over the holidays, always use these tips for enjoying your meal (whether you are doing the cooking, or are a guest at someone else’s table):

• Load up on vegetables

• Choose a smaller plate

• Eat the rainbow

• Eat lots of salad

• Slow down and Enjoy EVERY bite

I hope that today’s newsletter will be of help to you and your family; and that the Functional Medicine approach we use here in our offices can offer you clear insight as to your health options.

Feel free to come talk to us if you are having doubts or questions about your family’s health. We will give you the honest truth, and the clinical research that supports it.

Remember, the (5) Essentials we talk about at Ferguson Life Health Centers are…

• Mindset

• Nerve Supply

• Nutrition

• Exercise

• Minimizing Toxins

There are NO LIMITS of what you can create, you are POWERFUL and there is nothing that you can not have or achieve! Believe in your power, believe in yourself and let go of what no longer serves you! ♡ Design your life, Create your reality…

This is life changing!

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