Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving dinner is all about serving a large meal with roasted turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, buttered corn, cranberry sauce, side dishes, and so on. Instead of devouring on classic fatty dishes made with excess cream and butter, opt for healthy ones this time.

With the replacement of proper ingredients, you can still cook tasty dishes to satisfy the taste buds of your family members, while maintaining a low calorie and less fatty meal menu.

Come up with simple cooking ideas. Say, for example, if you are hosting a small family get-together party, do not purchase the whole, self-basking turkey; rather go for the turkey breast, which contains less fat, and allows easy roasting.

While roasting it, use an oil spray, instead of rubbing turkey with spoonfuls of butter. Include fresh herbs, and seasonal fruits and vegetables as far as possible. Following are some delicious, yet healthy recipes for you.

Ingredients
♦ Water, ¾ cup
♦ Onion, 1 (small, chopped)
♦ Pumpkin Puree, 8 oz.
♦ Vegetable Broth, 1 cup (unsalted)
♦ Nutmeg, ¼ tsp. (finely ground)
♦ Ground Cinnamon, ½ tsp.
♦ Milk, 1 cup (fat-free)
♦ Black Pepper, ⅛ tsp. (freshly ground)
♦ Green Onion, 1 (only green top, chopped)

Directions
Boil water in a saucepan and add onion. As it turns soft and tender, introduce pumpkin puree, vegetable broth, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Keep the heat in medium-high setting, and bring the soup mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 5 - 7 minutes till the soup thickens a bit.

Pour milk and wait till it becomes hot. Garnish the dish with pepper and green onion, and serve hot. This soup yields about 72 calories per one cup serving amount.

Ingredients
♦ Whole Turkey, 1 (neck and giblet removed)
♦ Olive Oil, ¾ cup
♦ Rosemary, 2 tbsp. (fresh, chopped)
♦ Garlic, 3 tbsp. (minced)
♦ Basil, 1 tbsp. (fresh, chopped)
♦ Black Pepper, 1 tsp. (freshly ground)
♦ Salt, to taste
♦ Italian Seasoning, 1 tbsp.

Directions
Roasted turkey is the base for thanksgiving dinner, and is one of the calorie-loaded food items. Trim off fatty portions before roasting. Clean the turkey, loosen the skin in the breast area, and pat it dry. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Add olive oil, rosemary, garlic, basil, pepper, salt, and Italian seasoning in a bowl. Mix well and keep it aside.

Place the clean turkey in a shallow dish, and apply the seasoning mixture below the breast skin, thigh, and remaining parts. If the skin in the breast area is torn, use toothpicks to keep the rosemary mixture in place.

In a roasting pan, pour ¼-inch water at the bottom, and place turkey on the rack. Roast it for about 3½ hours, or until the internal temperature reading is about 180° F. Allow it to cool down and serve. This roasted turkey provides approximately 596 calories per serving.

Ingredients
♦ Cranberries, 6 oz.
♦ White Sugar, ½ cup
♦ Orange Juice, ½ cup

Directions
Heat orange juice in a saucepan over medium-low setting. Add sugar and allow it to dissolve completely. Add cranberries and cook for 10 minutes, or until some of them begin popping. Remove from heat and keep it aside for some time for cooling. This cranberry sauce, made with orange juice, yields about 95 calories per serving.

Ingredients
♦ Sweet Potatoes, 4 (medium-sized, peeled, and cubed)
♦ Brown Sugar, 1 tbsp.
♦ Orange Juice, ½ cup
♦ Orange Zest, 1 tsp.
♦ Cinnamon, ½ tsp.
♦ Ground Ginger, ½ tsp.
♦ Ground Nutmeg, ½ tsp. (or to taste)

Directions
A traditional thanksgiving party is incomplete without serving mashed sweet potatoes. In order to lower the calorie count, avoid drizzling the dish with butter and sugar. First of all, boil the sweet potato cubes in water for 20 - 25 minutes, or till they become tender. Drain water and place them in a bowl.

Add brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg to it. Mash the sweet potatoes properly. The calories for this orange-flavored mashed potatoes are 180 per serving.

At the time of serving roasted turkey, remove the skin and avoid using oil dripped from turkey for making gravy. Replace animal fat with olive oil, or plain vegetables for a healthier gravy alternative. Make simple adjustments, and serve a healthy meal. Enjoy this special dinner without worrying about the calorie value, or eating fat laden foods.