I don’t know about you, but as a foodie, Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday of the year. It’s great to get together with the family and eat some good food. If you’re wondering how to make a healthy thanksgiving plate, I’ll show you.
Though we typically associate Thanksgiving with overindulgence and “treating yourself”, there are actually so many healthy options.
And you likely are already serving many of them!
If you’re wondering how to make your plate delicious and nutritious, you just need to make sure you are including a variety of foods.
This means you need to include foods that fall into different nutrient categories.
As an example, mashed potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates, while green beans are a great source of micronutrients!
I’m going to show you how to build the perfect healthy Thanksgiving plate:
Step 1: The Protein
The center point of a Thanksgiving meal is the protein.
Likely, it will be turkey, or maybe even some pot roast.
Whatever it is, I would aim to fill ¼ – ⅓ of your plate with that delicious turkey!
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, it can be tough at Thanksgiving, but luckily, there are plenty of protein options for you.
Try beans, tofurky, or tofu as your protein option.
Top it off with some gravy for some extra fun and flavor, and you got a delicious protein portion of your meal.
Step 2: The Carbs
Next is the carbohydrate portion of the meal, my personal favorite!
There are plenty of amazing Thanksgiving carb options.
Mashed potatoes, sweet potato pie, stuffing, squash, dinner rolls, corn, and cornbread are all great options to fill up the carb part of your plate.
Aim for ¼ – ⅓ of your plate to be filled with carbs!
Get creative and mix it up, don’t feel like you only need to have one source of carbohydrates at your meal.
Step 3: The Color
Next is the color. This is going to include vegetables and fruits!
Green beans, asparagus, cranberry sauce, cooked apples, and brussel sprouts fit into this category.
Even a few carbohydrates can overlap into the color section, such as squash, corn, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes.
Try to fill ⅓ – ½ of your plate with color, whether that be vegetables, fruit, or a little of both!
Is it important that I eat healthy at Thanksgiving?
The answer is no.
After all, it is a holiday that comes around once a year, and it’s meant to be enjoyed and savored.
That being said, after a while, creating healthy plates becomes a habit, and you’ll find that you will naturally gravitate towards creating a balanced plate.
Thanksgiving dinner is wonderful because it includes a lot of variety and a lot of nutrient dense foods.
This healthy Thanksgiving plate will not only be nourishing, it will be delicious and satisfying.
How can I prevent overeating?
Thanksgiving is typically associated with overindulging.
First, I’d like to say that it’s ok to eat past your fullness every once in a while. As long as it isn’t painful or making you want to vomit (we would want that).
That being said, it’s always a good idea to try to practice mindful eating.
Take your time eating and spending time with your family. Take your time chewing and tasting your food.
Enjoy all of the flavors, as well as the company around you.
Think about how grateful you are to have such a delicious, nourishing meal in front of you! Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about?
Creating healthy plates throughout the year
In general, the Thanksgiving plate is a great guideline for eating meals throughout the year.
It is recommended that ½ your plate be vegetables and fruits, ¼ your plate to be carbohydrates/grains, and ¼ your plate to be lean protein.
If you are active, your carbohydrate and protein sections should grow due to your need for more calories and protein.
As long as you focus on getting in a variety of foods, macronutrients, and micronutrients, you will be eating healthy.
Focus on adding in different kinds of foods and making meals fun!
If you follow these tips, eating healthy throughout the year will be easy and exciting.
For more healthy tips and tricks, follow my Instagram @tasteitwithtia.
