It may be a fun tradition to stuff ourselves on the holiday, but it’s not a fun tradition to double our time on the treadmill the next week to work it off. If you stick to these 10 nutritious Thanksgiving staples, it may not cut down on calories, but at least you can feel a little less guilty this year.
Dark meat
Everybody wants the white meat, but did you know the calorie difference between the dark and light parts of the turkey is almost non-existent? Meanwhile the dark meat has a lot more to offer in nutrition, with high levels of iron, zinc and B-vitamins.
Pecans
Serve yourself a slice of the pecan pie: pecans have one of the highest levels of antioxidants in the nut family, which come from the nut’s great source of vitamin E. Pecans also hold healthy fats that can help reduce cholesterol and prevent type 2 diabetes.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon isn’t just a great addition to hot chocolate and sweet potatoes: it’s a semi-superfood. Eating half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day for 40 days can reduce blood sugar as well as cholesterol levels. Some studies also suggest that smelling cinnamon can boost brain productivity.
Cranberries
Sauce up your turkey because cranberries are rich in antioxidants, which can help your body’s cells fend off dangerous free radicals that cause cancer. Studies have also found that cranberries contain compounds that can help ward off infections and reduce cholesterol.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is an incredible source of fiber—just one cup offers seven grams. Plus, its deep orange color is a sign of the powerful carotenoids. If you can, skip the crust on the pumpkin pie and go straight for the filling.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes, like pumpkins, are another great source of fiber. They’re also an incredible source of vitamin C, B-vitamins and several minerals. Plus this is a slow-digesting food so having a serving of the mashed sweet potatoes could curb cravings later in the day.
Peaches
If there’s a peach cobbler or peach crumble at the table, dig into that for dessert. One whole peach contains just 35-50 calories, so a peach dessert will have one of the lightest fillings on the dessert table. Peaches can also aid digestion, which you’ll need after that big meal.
Green beans
Pick the green beans out of the otherwise fatty green bean casserole and you’ll be getting tons of vitamins, including immune-boosting niacin and thiamine, vitamin K and antioxidant vitamin C. Green beans are also a low-calorie food, but their water content makes you feel full faster.
Mushroom gravy
If you’re in charge of the cooking, try making mushroom gravy. Mushrooms give the gravy an incredible flavor, plus mushrooms contain tons of health benefits like good-for-your-bladder selenium and vitamin D. Replacing some of the usual thickener like flour or butter with mushrooms helps the gravy retain texture, but reduces calories significantly.
Rhubarb pie
Another dessert makes our list! Rhubarb is an incredibly healthy vegetable. It contains antioxidants like lycopene and anthocyanins which help fight disease, as well as vitamin K which can help fight off liver cancer. It’s also a great source of fiber, vitamin C, calcium, potassium and magnesium.