Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving?! After all, it’s a time for family gathering and food — lots and lots of food! While it’s no secret that Thanksgiving offerings are mostly high-calorie, fat-laden foods, there are some alternative ways to give your favorite senior a meal that is both delicious and healthy. Here’s how!

Eat Breakfast!

Seniors who eat a good, healthy breakfast on Thanksgiving day won’t overindulge and load up their plate. You can even make a Thanksgiving-themed breakfast! Serve up a plate of these festive foods that will be a crowd-pleaser!

• Oatmeal sprinkled with craisins or cranberries
• Lightly buttered toast and a healthy serving of applesauce
• Whole wheat pumpkin waffles
• Hard-boiled eggs and a baked sweet potato

It’s all in the Preparation!

Turkey is no doubt the number one staple on everyone’s Thanksgiving table. However, if you want to serve up a healthier version here’s what you can do:

• Skip the deep fryer –  While we all love a good crispy outer layer, eating turkey without the skin is the healthiest option.
• Roast it – Roasting is the healthiest way to cook a turkey.
• Forgo the butter and brining – Butter adds more fat and brining adds more salt. Many seniors have to watch their sodium intake.

Choose Healthy Sides!

Ahhh, biscuits and gravy, green bean casseroles, candied sweet potatoes, stuffing with sausage, pecan pie — shall we go on? These are all tasty Thanksgiving delights for sure, but not so delightful for a senior’s health. Here are some healthy alternatives:

• Gluten-free sweet potato biscuits
• Green beans and sliced almonds or walnuts
• Roasted sweet potatoes with balsamic vinegar
• Wild mushroom and spinach stuffing

You can find recipes for the above and more at bonappetit.com.

The Arbors Assisted Living community encourages and supports healthy eating habits and food choices for our senior residents. We provide a variety of nutritious meals that foster a healthful lifestyle. Contact us to learn more!