12 Humbelievable Thanksgiving Recipes

Just in case you happened to need yet another list of foodgasmically delish eats for Thanksgiving....

I've gotcha covered. Ya know, Thanksgiving doesn't have to scream sabotage to your healthy lifestyle. Yes, I eat far more than I normally do on Thanksgiving because hey, that's what it's all about! And that's okay.  It's very okay. Life's too short to stress about over-eating on a holiday that's kind of meant for over-eating.

I freaking love Thanksgiving, and I especially love indulging with my own healthy tweaks. I sweeten my goodies with pure maple syrup instead of refined white sugar. I try to avoid processed boxed crap and desserts made with shortening (AKA trans fat) as much as possible. I load up on the veggie sides and sweet potatoes.  And you better believe I sample all the desserts. I don't starve myself prior to Thanksgiving because contrary to popular belief, not eating all day to prepare for the big meal just leads to over-eating in the end.

And because I love to eat, duh.

So eat as you normally do this Thursday, and if you eat a little more, don't sweat it. Fill your belly with love and laughs, fill your cup with apple cider sangria, and lounge on the couch watching (or not watching) football. Start your day with a hugh jass green smoothie or piping hot bowl of oats, enjoy a light lunch, drink plenty of water, and and then dig into the pumpkin pie and marshmallowy sweet taters at night.

Be thankful for the wonderful food and the fabulous company!

I wish I was hosting the feast this year so I could cook up all these beauties, but sadly I'm not. My aunt's hosting, so I'm bringing my maple balsamic roasted brussels sprouts and my famous Thanksgiving salad (two large heads of chopped romaine, ¾ cup roasted and salted almonds, a bag of dried cranberries, a bunch of chopped scallions, and two cubed avocados dressed with this balsamic dressing). The key is chopping it all into bite sized pieces. This salad gets requested every year! It's a keeper.

If I were hosting, this is what I would make. Without further adieu, here are a few healthy yet totally delicious recipes from  a few of my favorite foodies.

Cranberry Sauce with Ginger and Maple via The Roasted Root

Healthy Green Bean Casserole via The Lean Green Bean

Maple Orange Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes and Vegan Gravy via Daily Garnish

Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes

Vegan Sausage Sourdough Stuffing via Making Thyme for Health

Wild Mushroom Gravy via Oh My Veggies

Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Garlic Green Beans with Lemon and Parmesan via Edible Perspective

Pumpkin Corn Muffins with Honey Sage Butter via Running to the Kitchen

Vegan Pumpkin Pie via Oh She Glows

Baked Cinnamon Apples via Detoxinista

Now go eat. A lot!