Our 3 Favorite Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

This time of the year creates a love-hate situation for those who are trying to be healthy. The food that hits the table on Thanksgiving is all of the tastiest flavors, but it comes with the side effect of being terribly unhealthy and leaving people feeling awful after eating it. If you want to still be able to enjoy the flavors of the season but without the food hangover, then we’ve got the perfect solution for you.

We’ve put together three of our favorite healthy Thanksgiving recipes so that you can enjoy this holiday just like everyone else, but wake up the next day feeling amazing and ready to hit your Pilates Platinum class.

Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast

It’s Thanksgiving and that means turkey. But this year, we aren’t going to do a turkey covered in all sorts of unhealthy sauces and seasonings. Instead, we are doing a healthy one that is packed with flavor. Here’s how to make it.  

Serves 6

The ingredients you need:

  • 1 whole bone-in turkey breast, 6 ½ to 7 pounds
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
  • 2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 cup dry white wine

How to make it:

  1. Preheat the oven to 325F
  2. Put the turkey breast (skin side up) on a rack in a roasting pan
  3. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, mustard, herbs, salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice to make a paste
  4. Loosen the skin from the turkey gently with your fingers and rub half of the paste onto the meat 
  5. Rub the remaining paste evenly onto the skin
  6. Pour the wine into the bottom of the roasting pan
  7. Roast the turkey for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, until the skin is golden brown and the thermometer reads 165F (if the skin is cooking too quickly, cover it with aluminum foil)
  8. When done, cover the turkey with foil and let it cool for 15 minutes
  9. Slice and serve

Cauliflower Stuffing

Stuffing is one of the best parts of this holiday and just because you’re trying to be healthy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be able to enjoy stuffing. With this recipe, you get the best of both worlds: delicious stuffing that won’t leave you feeling terrible after eating it.  

Serves 6

The ingredients you need:

  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 small head cauliflower, chopped
  • 1 c. (8-oz. package) baby bella mushrooms, chopped
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ c. freshly chopped parsley
  • 2 T freshly chopped rosemary
  • 1 tsp. ground sage)
  • ½ c. vegetable or chicken broth

How to make it:

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter
  2. Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté until soft, or for about 7 to 8 minutes
  3. Add cauliflower and mushrooms and season with salt and pepper
  4. Cook until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes more.
  5. Add parsley, rosemary, and sage and stir until combined
  6. Pour broth and cook until the liquid is absorbed about 10 minutes

Apple Crisp

Dessert is an absolute must for Thanksgiving, but don’t worry – you don’t have to sacrifice your health for this one. This apple crisp is full of all the fall flavors you want, without all of the sugar. Just spice, and everything nice. 

Serves 4

The ingredients you need:

For the filling:

  • 4 cups (about 1 lb) apples peeled and sliced in ¼-inch thick pieces
  • 1 T coconut oil, melted
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger

For the crisp topping:

  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ginger
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • ⅓ cup pecans chopped
  • 2 T coconut oil
  • 1 T maple syrup

How to make it:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a greased 8×8 baking dish
  2. Peel and cut apple slices into ¼-inch thick slices
  3. Melt coconut oil
  4. Toss apples with coconut oil, cinnamon + ginger, set aside
  5. Mix crisp topping
  6. Pour apples into bottom of the baking dish
  7. Layer crisp topping evenly on top of apples
  8. Cover apple crisp with aluminum foil and bake at 350F for 20 min
  9. Remove aluminum foil and bake for another 10-20 minutes, until apples are tender and crisp topping is golden brown

Bon appetite!