Unfortunately with how busy my schedule has been with getting home from tour and trying to catch up on life, I wasn’t able to re-create my OWN healthy Thanksgiving recipes for you guys this year but I was able to create a round-up of some gluten free, dairy free (mostly vegan) dishes from blogs I LOVE! So for those of you trying to have a “lighter” but still delicious Thanksgiving – this post is for you! Before I get started on sharing recipes I want to share a few healthy Thanksgiving tips.
Some healthy words of wisdom I have for Thanksgiving:
- Don’t go into Thanksgiving dinner STARVING, try and have a few snacks before the big meal so that you are more in control of your hunger and less likely to over eat.
- Drink lots of water. The first sign of dehydration is actually hunger – not thirst. Drink a glass a water before you eat dinner to ensure you are not eating because of your need for H20.
- Start with small servings. A big mistake people make is overloading their plate and then feeling as if they have to finish everything on it. Start with smaller portions and if you need more you can always go back up for seconds.
- Wait 30 minutes before heading back up for seconds. It takes 15-30 min for our stomach to send our brain the signal that we are full – if you eat too much within that period of time you might find yourself feeling sickly stuffed.
- Take it from me… don’t get caught up in conversations about politics – it’s not worth the animosity that follows. Focus on keeping conversations light and enjoying your time with loved ones.
RECIPES
1. Vegan Lentil “Meatloaf”
This is my go-to main dish as a vegetarian for Thanksgiving, since I can’t have gluten I am not able to eat a “Tofurkey” or “Field Roast Ham” but honestly this tastes so much better in my opinion.
ilovevegan.com
2. Whole30 Turkey Breast
I don’t eat meat myself but my family and my significant other do so I wanted to share a “better for you” turkey dish you can make for the whole family.
40aprons.com
3. Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
What would turkey be without some good cranberry sauce? This recipe is super simple since it can be made in an instant pot
https://realfoodrealdeals.com
4. Vegan Stuffing
Your guests won’t even notice this recipe doesn’t have dairy or chicken stock – make it gluten free by subbing the whole grain bread for a gluten free variety
minimalistbaker.com
5. Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes
Every Thanksgiving dinner needs mashed potatoes and this dairy-free recipe from Minimalist Baker is the best around
minimalistbaker.com
6. Vegan Gravy
A delicious gravy recipe that doesn’t require any meat!
fatfreevegan.com
7. Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Typically green bean casserole is made with heavy cream and despite it being a vegetable based dish – it’s not so good for you BUT this green bean casserole dish is far lighter and way better for your waistline!
minimalistbaker.com
8. Gluten-Free / Vegan Pumpkin Pie
My sister-in-law’s children both have dairy allergies (as do I) so they’ve never gotten to experience pumpkin pie… but this year that is going to change with this delicious allergen friendly recipe!
jessicainthekitchen.com
10. Boozy Pomegranate & Ginger Kombucha
If you are looking to get the party started look no farther! This boozy kombucha is perfect PLUS it got gut healing benefits!
thechrisellefactor.com
and there you have it! All the recipes you need for this year’s Thanksigiving! Enjoy!
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