A Dozen Trim Thanksgiving Recipes

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Are you ready for some new, healthy recipes to liven up your Thanksgiving Day table? I've created five new recipes that celebrate the season of giving thanks. No doubt about it, pumpkin takes center stage this year, along with squash of all kinds.


Whole Wheat Couscous with Spinach and Squash

228 calories, 2 g fat

Each one cup portion has a serving each of whole grains and vegetables.


Pumpkin Dip

32 calories, 2 g fat

Serve this instead of your typical chips and dip.


Pumpkin Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

88 calories, 4 g fat

Sipping on soup at the start of a meal reminds you to slow down and savor each bite.


 'Seedy' Pumpkin Pie

168 calories, 7 g fat

The crust has a secret ingredient. Any guesses?


Petite Pecan Tart

103 calories, 5 g fat

A Southern favorite gets a boost of nutrition and fiber.


Pair those with these old favorites:

Vegetable and Fruit Stuffing

78 calories, 1 g fat

Sweet and savory, this stuffing won't leave you feeling stuffed.


Sweet Potato Tarts

150 calories, 2 g fat

Can you tell that I'm a fan of tiny tarts? These replace sweet potato casserole on my table.


Roasted Squash Soup

129 calories, 3 g fat

We always start Thanksgiving with a soup. Squash and pumpkin tastes creamy and rich with no cream!


Roasted Root Vegetables

82 calories, 2 g fat

These just sing of the harvest to me. The balsamic drizzle dresses them up.


Mini Apple Tarts

124 calories, 4 g fat

There's nothing better than apple pie, except maybe these trimmed-down tarts.


Herb Roasted Turkey

154 calories, 3 g fat

Don't waste time basting your bird. This one stays plump and juicy!


Apple Cider Gravy

20 calories, 0 g fat

Non-fat gravy? Yes, it can be done.


Last year, we shared our 500-Calorie Thanksgiving Dinner. This year, you can add in a few new recipes and still keep Thanksgiving at 500 calories.

Chef Meg's Feast Calories Fat
Herb Roasted Turkey, 3 oz light meat 140 3 g
Apple Cider Gravy, 2 T 20 0 g
Whole Wheat Couscous with Squash and Spinach, 1c 228 2 g
Pumpkin Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, 1 c 88 4 g
Cranberry Relish, 2 T 42 0 g
Total: 518 9 g


Tip: Instead of trying to squeeze your dessert calories into your meal, wait a couple of hours for dinner to settle and count them as a snack.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving Day dish? Which of my dishes will grace your table this year?