Can you almost smell the turkey roasting? How about the pumpkin pie baking in the oven? I love fall! I mean this is my favorite time of the year. Crisp mornings, warm comfort food, and all my favorite smells. I can’t get enough of this season and it seems to come and go in a flash.
Since I was a child I have enjoyed cooking and my grandma loved to cook and entertain, which is where I grew to love it too. I would get my apron on, grab my stool and we would bake and cook together for weeks before the holidays. We would spend time decorating, cooking, baking and creating a home of warmth and love. My grandmother has passed away now but those days are some of my fondest memories. Those treasures of homemaking and making memories I plan to share with my little girl. I guess I am a little old fashioned(as some people would call it), I love to create a home of warmth and treasure being a homemaker. Being a mom and wife is one of my most treasured gifts and callings.
Traditions are important! And all of us have foods that call out to us that we recreate every holiday season.( my favorite)!
We know more now then we did about food and our body. With an autoimmune disorder, I have transitioned to a gluten-free, dairy-free life which can be challenging especially when holidays roll around and family and friends come for dinner who aren’t gluten-dairy-free. I have a large family and some just won’t give healthy food a try, so I have to work hard to make traditional foods as close to the original as possible and then I still have to sneak it in. Shhhh!
So how can you create “The Best Thanksgiving Ever”-Healthy?
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- Make a list of the menu along with recipes and shopping list
- Keep it simple Holidays are more about the time spent together than all the details.
- Look at what can be prepped ahead of time. Many items can be made ahead and packaged to freeze a week to two weeks ahead of time. (Pie dough, cleaned and prepared green beans, squash soup).
- Use Paper plate and paper goods.(yes I love China and a beautiful place setting, but sometimes it’s not necessary).
- Create centerpieces that have a nature theme. Buy mini pumpkins, pinecones, have the kids find leaves.
- I’ve created a perfect traveling companion for snacks click here to download https://www.abundantlivingmommy.com/join-me/
- If your family is traveling for the holiday chose an item to bring you know is a healthy option, something on your dietary food list.
- Foods don’t have to be loaded with butter and sugar to be tasty. You can use alternatives like:
- ORGANIC VALLEY Certified Ghee Clarified Butter
- Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter
- Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil, Virgin, 15 Ounce
- Big Tree Farms Organic Coconut Sugar
- 100% Pure, Raw and Unfiltered Honey
- NOW Foods Organic Maple Syrup
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I’ve created a timeline to help create a holiday that is simple, stressfree and full of food and fun!
Thanksgiving Time Line
One of the keys to a simple, fun, stress-free holiday is planning.
1-2 weeks ahead
Order turkey
Plan and confirm the number of guests
Plan menu, shopping list, who will bring what list.
Shop for non-perishable items.
3 days prior to Thanksgiving
Make the brine, just refrigerate, but don’t place the turkey in the brine.
Make ahead any food like chop vegetables, cranberry sauce.
Finish shopping for all items.
Day before
Place turkey in brine and refrigerate.
Make desserts, pies, crips.
Set the table
Chop potatoes place in water and cover.
chop remaining ingredients and refrigerate.
Day of Thanksgiving
Roast turkey
Prepare remaining food.
Play games and enjoy!
It all starts with the Turkey! Choose an organic Fresh Turkey for the richest flavor. The biggest difference in a fresh vs frozen turkey is the flavor and consistency. A fresh turkey will be firmer and more flavorful. If you chose a frozen turkey chose one without signs of frost and let defrost completely before cooking. A few days prior to Thanksgiving brine your turkey for the moistest turkey. I have step by step instructions here Easy Apple Brine (Transform your Turkey)
Once you have brined your turkey There are many options on dressing it. But the best way and most flavorful is packing it full of herbs Herb and Apple Brine Turkey, then slow roasting it.
Try trading in your green bean casserole for this Green Beans with Mushrooms and Bacon in Brown Butter
Perfect Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
This is one of my favorite recipes. I actually use this recipe for many weeknight dinners. Its great as a leftover even a breakfast leftover when you add some ground turkey or sausage.
Sweet Potatoes mashed is just as good and sweet as mashed potatoes. This recipe is so simple and tasty it will be a great weeknight side dish.
Apple Pie it’s a holiday staple. Even more an American tradition. This apple pie is so good you won’t even miss the crust.
This turkey gravy recipe is a perfect side to accompany the sweet potato mash.
You can try to mix up some traditions like make a fresh vegetable tray with hummus or a fruit tray, apples with almond butter or mini mandarins.
Creating Traditions
Holidays are not only about the food they are about time, family, friends and what makes that time special. Some of our families favorites include:
- When we sit down to eat, on each person’s plate there are 3 kernels of corn we go around the table to share what we are grateful for, thankful for. This is my favorite part. Hearing each and every person’s heart, including the children. So sweet!
- Games
- scavenger hunt- make clues and send everyone on a hunt for the items with a grand prize for the winner.
- How about a good old-fashioned sack race.
- Crafts for the kids- printable placemats and colors
- how about everyone, including adults, paint a rock with one word of gratitude.
- After dinner go to a park and play football or soccer. I can’t wait for this one. We live across the street from a school with a large field. Bring on the game!
The one thing to keep in mind Thanksgiving is one day. You can bring healthy options along with you but you can also enjoy some foods you might not normally eat in your diet.
Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!
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