Just because the traditional Thanksgiving dinner is about celebrating abundance, doesn't mean you have to over-eat an abundance of unhealthy, fattening foods. You can have a traditional healthy Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and gravy, sweet potatoes and healthy turkey stuffing.
So maybe it's time to break with our modern tradition of overindulgence. Let's go back to the true meaning of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, which was to celebrate health and friendship.
The Perfect Turkey with the Best Turkey Stuffing
This delicious wild rice stuffing is a satisfying alternative to heavy bread stuffing. Begin with a 12 to 15 lb. turkey, add the best turkey stuffing below and follow how to cook the perfect turkey directions. Then you can enjoy holiday feasting knowing you're nourishing your body too.
Healthy Wild Rice Turkey Stuffing
Combine and cook until done:
- 2 cups mixed rice (about 1/4 wild rice to 3/4 organic basmati brown rice)
- 4 cups non-fat chicken or turkey broth
- 3 to 4 Tbs. low sodium tamari
- 2 large onions
- 4 large celery stalks
- turkey giblets (optional)
- ½ to 1½ tsp. salt
- 1 to 2 tsp. sage or your favorite poultry seasoning
Healthy Fat-Free Onion Gravy
Ingredients (for 3 to 4 people – adjust accordingly):
- 2 tsp. toasted dried minced onions
- 1 cup non-fat chicken or turkey broth
- 1 Tbs. low sodium tamari
- 2 tsp. cornstarch
- 2 tsp. whole wheat pastry flour
- ¼ cup non-fat dry powdered milk
- ¼ to ½ tsp. dried chives (optional)
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch, whole wheat pastry flour and dry milk. Then blend in ½ cup broth and stir until smooth.
- Bring the other ½ cup broth to boil in a saucepan with tamari, toasted onions and chives.
- Reduce heat to low, add cornstarch mixture and simmer, stirring constantly until gravy has thickened.
- If you want thinner gravy, stir in ¼ cup more broth and simmer for another minute.
A healthy Thanksgiving feast will include several simple vegetable side dishes, such as green beans, baked sweet potatoes or peas, plus a fresh fruit salad for desert. But leave out the usual butter, sugar and cream that generally accompanies our modern traditional Thanksgiving meals.
Menu:
- Slow-Cooking Turkey with Wild Rice Stuffing
- Fat-free onion gravy
- Baked sweet potatoes (Bake before putting the cooking turkey in the oven. Then reheat on foil for about 45 minutes before taking the turkey out of the oven.)
- Steamed green beans or peas (with pearl onions)
- Whole grain rolls (optional)
- Fruit sweetened cranberry sauce (optional)
- Fresh fruit salad (Add plain unsweetened low fat yogurt if you want it creamy.)
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Note: The information contained on this website is not intended to be prescriptive. Any attempt to diagnose or treat an illness should come under the direction of a physician who is familiar with nutritional therapy.
