Healthy Holidays: Nutritious Thanksgiving Alternatives

It’s feasting season, but that doesn’t mean we have to ditch our healthy habits.

Grand Central is here to help those of you wishing to stay in shape this Thanksgiving. Choosing the healthy alternatives below will allow you to keep the great taste of your favorite dishes without sacrificing your waistline.

1. Choose sweet potatoes over mashed white potatoes.

When you’re reaching for potatoes this holiday season, consider steering clear of white potatoes and indulging in sweet ones instead. They contain vitamin D, something many of us need to add into our diets this time of year. Vitamin D is often obtained from the sun, but during the cold winter months, there is little sunlight to absorb.

Sweet potatoes are healthier and they’re delicious. You can’t go wrong.

2. Choose fresh green beans over green bean casserole.

Oscoda freshman Taylor Morse said when it comes to the infamous holiday casserole, you may want to think twice before diving in.

“Instead of green bean casserole, you can wrap fresh green beans in tin foil and grill them,” Morse said. “Tossing the green beans with olive oil and your favorite seasoning prior to grilling adds flavor, too. If you choose, you can also add almonds, which gives the dish a little crunch.”

Another perk of fresh green beans? They are a great source of vitamin A and carotenoids, and they can help you keep that winter weight off, since they’re not accompanied by the fat and calories in a typical casserole.

3. Choose white meat over dark meat.

While many delicious Thanksgiving treats have healthier alternatives, turkey is one of the best sources of lean meat available. With high protein and low saturated fat content, white turkey meat is an excellent choice for your Thanksgiving meal. The high protein in white meat keeps you fuller longer, making it easier to decline those tempting desserts.

4. Choose fresh cranberries over processed cranberry sauce.

Fowlerville sophomore Marie Parker has another replacement for a traditional Thanksgiving side that she and her family enjoy.

“My family and I choose to use fresh cranberries instead of canned cranberry sauce for our dinner,” Parker said. “We make a cranberry orange salad with nuts and celery.”

This holiday season, it’s all about fresh foods – cranberries included. These holiday favorites are also a great source of vitamin C and contain natural antioxidants.

Who knew eating something so healthy could be this delicious?

5. Choose natural filling over artificial for your apple pie.

As for the famous holiday apple pie, consider using a different filling technique to axe calories and fat. Instead of using a a canned or boxed pie filling, slice up two additional apples into small pieces. When baked to perfection, these pieces can be used to fill out your pie – and they don’t add the fat and sugar that normal pie filling does – and this technique is equally as delicious.