No question: Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays.
But it’s hard to be quite so grateful when your dinner is loaded with ingredients that crash your blood sugar and drag your metabolism to a grinding halt… How about some help?
Below are my suggestions for Thanksgiving mains, sides, and desserts that avoid the 7 Hi-FI foods and keep your sugar impact low. And even if you skip the turkey, the rest of the meal makes for a fantastic vegetarian feast!
There’s plenty to be thankful for in this tasty Thanksgiving menu!
(Best of all, no one will even notice they’re eating healthy because they’ll be too busy enjoying the irresistible flavors…)
Need an appetizer? Start with Virgin Stuffed Mushrooms or Roasted Artichoke Dip. These delicious appetizers offer great nutrition, too. There’s no better way to start your Thanksgiving festivities than with extra vitamins, protein, and fiber!
Opt out of cooking the whole bird. Make things quick and easy with a gorgeous Golden Roasted Turkey Breast, or go even smaller with Turkey Cutlets with Marsala and Shiitake Mushrooms. Either way, you’ll have a delicious main dish that tastes amazing and leaves out corn, soy, and gluten.
No need to forego stuffing or mashed potatoes, as long as you opt for nutritious versions like Gluten-Free Bone Broth Stuffing or Healthy Garlic-Herb Mashed Potatoes—and pay attention to portion size. Both of these recipes have the same secret ingredient: bone broth. That means collagen for your bones, joints, and skin. Who says Thanksgiving can’t leave you feeling great?
If you want to serve fewer carbs this year, then Wild Rice and Vegetable Pilaf and Acorn Squash Puree are the answer. Both of these dishes offer yummy autumn flavors without the potential sugar crash, plus they create perfect options for vegetarian guests.
Forget that outdated green bean casserole! Invite Green Beans with Shiitakes and Shallots and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon to dinner this year. Both these sides help you get your fiber and green leafies without adding processed canned soup and other questionable ingredients.
And no Thanksgiving meal is complete without Nutty Orange-Cranberry Sauce. This tangy twist on the classic has plenty of fruit flavor without all the sugar impact. (Don’t forget to set a bit aside for your Cranberry-Orange Sunrise Shake – it’s the perfect partner to help you shop till you drop on Black Friday!)
Finally, no need to say bye-bye pumpkin pie! Help yourself to Easy Gluten-Free Crustless Pumpkin Pie or a batch of Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Blondies. End your meal with all the pumpkin-y goodness and none of the bad stuff! These gluten-free, dairy-free desserts will satisfy your sweet tooth without leaving you in a sugar coma.
Happy Thanksgiving from the whole JJ Virgin team – we’re so grateful for you!
Have questions? Follow me on Facebook or Instagram and let me know how my team and I can best support you!
