As we head into Thanksgiving week and the start of the holiday season, I want to wish you a happy, healthy holiday season. Whether we’re currently partnering together or have worked together in the past, I’m truly grateful that you’ve allowed me to be part of your health journey. Thank you!
I’m not only thinking not only about Thanksgiving dinner but also nutrient-dense, easy meals to enjoy and provide some balance during the festive season. I hope you enjoy the recipes shared below.
Holiday Side Ideas
- Paleo Stuffing – a holiday staple in our house.
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash – I make this recipe throughout the yea. I often substitute sweet potatoes for butternut squash, skip the maple syrup and the garnish.
- Kale & Quinoa Salad – pomegranate seeds are full of polyphenols and add color. Option to omit the dried cranberries. Kale & Quinoa with Apples Salad is another good option.
- 3-Ingredient Cranberry Sauce – super easy and whole cranberries freeze well.
- Sweet Potato Casserole – option to reduce or omit maple syrup.
For easy meals, I always try to keep veggies on hand for making salads, or a quick side to add with a protein. For example, a bag of coleslaw mix can easily be added with a protein for a stir fry. I find bowl meals – taco, shawarma, firecracker chicken or a stir fry make it really easy to add veggies. A roasted a pan of vegetables, sautéed chard or steamed broccoli, all mix in really well too. Soups are also another great way to increase veggies and can be eaten throughout the day, including breakfast.
Easy Meal Recipes
- Chicken Shawarma Bowls – I prefer to cook the chicken in the slow cooker, on high for 3.5 hours. Did you know mixing beaters are great for shredding cooked meat?
- Firecracker Chicken – serve with roasted veggies, cauliflower rice.
- Thai Salad – swap out peanut butter for almond, tahini or sunbutter if avoiding peanuts
- Basil Chicken Curry – I like to cook it in the crockpot and load it with veggies (zucchini, chard, peppers, carrots, etc). Slow cooker on high for 3.5 hours.
- Chili – loaded with veggies.
- Tuscan White Bean Kale Soup or Zuppa Toscana Soup – I usually only use one meat
Want a refresher on holiday self-care tips? You can find some here.