It’s that wonderful time of year already, when we look forward to eating way too much, going home or just getting a break from school: it’s Thanksgiving, finally! It’s the first break we get in the fall, and you can tell by the amount of exhausted-looking students that we are all ready for a break to rest, rejuvenate, and of course, eat! Whether we’re staying close to school this year or heading home, we’re all happy to have some much deserved time off.
Every person has different thanksgiving traditions, ranging from what time you eat, to how many people come to your house, to the dishes you prepare. When we think about the quintessential Thanksgiving foods—turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, bread roles, cranberry sauce, and of course, pumpkin pie come to mind. But what if you’re looking to make this year’s Thanksgiving healthier? Bored with traditional Thanksgiving dishes and feel like putting a twist on your meal? Here are a few alternative Thanksgiving meal suggestions.
Instead of the conventional roasted turkey, there are a ton of delicious alternatives. Try braised short ribs for a hearty choice. Lamb also makes a great substitute for the often-too-dry turkey tradition. We like sage and garlic crusted leg of lamb or a traditional roasted lamb. Sticking with the herb-coated delicacies, we like roast pork with pancetta and sage, for that irresistible pork flavor. For vegetarian or pesceterian eaters, we recommend sage and rosemary butternut squash lasagna, and wild salmon with an orange butter glaze.
If you are looking for a twist on main course dishes while maintaining traditional flavors, we recommend brussel sprouts with pancetta and rosemary, mushrooms sautéed in butter and balsamic vinaigrette, roasted green beans and carrots, or braised purple cabbage. Or, try parmesan and rosemary sweet potato fries, Moroccan carrot soup, veggie-stuffed ravioli, spiced pumpkin and lentil salad with goat cheese, apple and butternut squash soup, sea salt kale chips, or apple salad with figs and almonds.
If you are looking to change your traditional stuffing, try a meatless veggie stuffing. Any of these healthy favorites will substitute for layers upon layers of bread. We like wild rice, or a quinoa-based stuffing. If you can’t break away from that delicious traditional stuffing flavor, we also recommend cornbread, bacon, leak and pecan stuffing.
And last, our favorite: dessert. While pumpkin pie is a classic, sometimes, we must branch out and try new desserts. Or if you’re craving pumpkin pie, why not eat that and other desserts? These include baked butternut squash pudding with ginger whipped cream, pecan pie, old-fashioned ginger bread, apple pie, pumpkin layer cake, apple corn muffins, honey pie or a lemon tart.
This year, be adventurous and switch up the traditional Thanksgiving menu while still cooking delectable dishes. Let the stress go, relax, and don’t be afraid to eat your weight in yumminess. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!