A Healthy Thanksgiving

Are you looking for healthy side items to serve this Thanksgiving? Look no further! Last year, at our home, we had Friendsgiving and this is what was served: 

First....always start with greens...

Salad with almonds & cranberries. Super simple and fresh. 

Paleo sweet potato casserole: 

What you need: 

4 pre-cooked and mashed sweet potatoes

1/4 cup raw maple syrup

1 large egg

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp pure vanilla

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp salt 

1/2 cup chopped pecans

To make: 

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Grease 8 inch dish with coconut oil

3. Mash the cooked and peeled potatoes in a mixing bowl

4. Add in maple syrup, egg, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt

5. Whip ingredients until creamy

6. Spoon mixture into dish (pre-greased)

7. Sprinkle on pecans

8. Bake for about 35 minutes (until slightly golden)

9. Serve and enjoy

Spinach, quinoa, and mushrooms

Cook time: 20 mins. 

Serves: 4 

What you need: 

1 lb mushroom, sliced thin

3 garlic cloves

1 tbsp unsalted butter (or use coconut oil)

1 tsp olive oil

5 chopped green onions

7 oz. fresh spinach

2 cups cooked quinoa 

1 tsp olive oil

salt

To make: 

1. Heat butter & olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. 

2. Add mushrooms and garlic. 

3. Saute over medium-high heat for 5 minutes until mushrooms are soft. 

4. Add green onions and mix. 

5. Season with salt. 

6. Add spinach to skillet, reduce heat to low. 

7. Cover skillet with lid and allow mushrooms and spinach cook for 1 minute. 

8. Add 2 cups of cooked quinoa to skillet and cook on low. 

9. Let cook for 1 minute until spinach wilts and quinoa is warm. 

10. If need be, add a tsp of olive oil and season with salt. 

Butternut Squash & Cranberry Quinoa Mix

Time needed: 40 mins. 

Serves: 4

What you need: 

3 cups chopped butternut squash

1 tbsp olive oil

1 cup uncooked quinoa

1.5 cups water

1/3 cup dried cranberry

1/3 cup chopped red onion

salt & pepper

To make: 

1. Preheat oven to 400

2. Toss the olive oil and squash into a bowl. 

3. Season with pepper and salt. 

4. Arrange squash on a baking sheet with one layer. 

5. Roast for 25 minutes (until squash is tender and lightly brown)

6. While squash is roasting, rinse quinoa under cold water (water should appear clear). 

7. Place quinoa and water in medium sized sauce pan. 

8. Bring to boil, reduce to a simmer until absorbed (about 20 mins). 

9. In a large bowl, combine quinoa, squash, cranberries, and onion into a large bowl. 

Green beans cooked on the stove with coconut oil. 

Drizzle with sliced almonds. 

What's on your menu this year? What simple changes can you make to make Thanksgiving a little healthier and cleaner? Your body will thank you in December.