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Thanksgiving is one of those holidays steeped in tradition, right down to the food we cook. From treasured family recipes to sharing our kitchen skills with our nearest and dearest, cooking a feast is often at the heart of what makes this holiday special. 

While making mindful choices for good health is always important, it becomes increasingly important with age. But how does one honour tradition and show off our best recipes if dietary restrictions are on the menu? 

Lucky for us, many Thanksgiving meal staples are already packed with important ingredients for optimal aging—like seasonal favourite pumpkin!—containing the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other nutrients our bodies need to keep us going to enjoy more holidays in the future. 

We’ve broken down your Thanksgiving menu by course with suggestions on how to put a healthy twist on seasonal favourites, along with a few extra tips along the way.

Pro Tip #1: Prepare your shopping list in advance! That way you won’t be distracted by other (unhealthy!) options at the store. These 15 foods should be on it at all times of the year.

A Healthy and Delicious Thanksgiving Menu

Starters

Keep it simple and fresh is best! A platter of chopped, raw veggies with a light dipping sauce (like high-protein ranch dressing) is a great option to keep the cook from snacking on unhealthy options in the moment, and create a fresh base for guests to then load up on the rich meal ahead.

Pro Tip #2: Roast your veggies! 

This works for starter or side dishes. Thanksgiving staples like carrots, brussel sprouts, beets, and squash are all high in vitamins, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants, making them a great nutritional source. Roasting these vegetables rather than boiling them will help preserve those nutrients, as well as be gentler on older stomachs for easier digestion than raw veggies.

Sides

Our excellent red seal-certified chefs at Verve Senior Living have created a few Thanksgiving-friendly recipes with a twist over time! Try our Cranberry Fluff, Potatoes au Gratin, and Red Wine Poached Pears

Why cranberries? These little tasty bursts of antioxidants are easily cooked up with water and honey in a slow boil over low heat for a homemade cranberry sauce option that’s lower in sugar than the store-bought canned version. Cranberries also help improve digestion, making them the perfect side for older adults.

The sweet and low on sweet potatoes. Did you know that sweet potatoes are loaded with immune-boosting and cancer risk-reducing beta-carotene? Whether they’re part of your stuffing, or simply mashing this sweet side with unsalted butter and a pinch of salt and pepper, topped with fresh rosemary, they are a wonderfully healthy addition to any Thanksgiving feast.

Pro Tip #3: Lower carbs and starches in your potato recipes by swapping in cauliflower, and replace stuffing ingredients with grain-free options such as roasted turnips and sweet potatoes—flavoured with apples, celery, onions, and hints of sage and thyme for traditional tastes.

The Main Dish

Turkey is healthier than red meat any meal of the year, and opting for the breast in particular contains less fat and calories than other cuts. When purchasing your bird, opt for natural and pasture-raised turkey to avoid artificial ingredients and preservatives where possible.

Try Verve’s classic turkey recipe with cranberry.

Pro Tip #4: Steer clear of eating the skin to avoid the turkey’s saturated fat.

Not into meat? Our chefs have created alternative recipes to impress: Smoked Salmon Wrapped Asparagus with Bearnaise Sauce and Salmon Filet with Olive Salsa on Farro are beautiful Thanksgiving table-worthy dishes.

Pro Tip #5: Cooking vegan this year? Try New York Times and Toronto Star best-seller Love & Lemon’s selection of vegan Thanksgiving dishes from sides, mains, desserts, and more for a plant-based holiday feast!

Dessert

It’s all about the apples this season! Known to help ease Alzheimer’s symptoms, lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and help with digestion, apples are the super fruit of Thanksgiving! 

Try our sure-to-impress Verve Classic Apple Pie, Maple Oatmeal Pie, Apple Cranberry cake, or Apple Maple Crisp.

Pro Tip #5: A simple baked apple sprinkled with cinnamon and a tiny pinch of sugar is a healthy and delicious alternative for more sensitive seniors.

No matter what you’re cooking up this Thanksgiving, make one thing from scratch and keep the rest simple! Don’t be afraid to delegate; many hands make light work and extra bonding. And lastly remember to breathe and enjoy the time with family and friends.

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