5 Veggies to Include in Thanksgiving Dinner

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5 Veggies to Include in Thanksgiving Dinner

Whether you’re following a weight loss plan, or just want to eat more healthfully, vegetables should be the cornerstone of your efforts. Veggies are high in nutrients, low in calories and fat, and they’re filling! When you include more vegetables in your diet, you promote better health while also helping yourself to feel more full.

Since Thanksgiving will bring a few challenges to your mindful eating plan (or weight loss plan), it might be best to focus on what you should eat rather than creating a list of “off limits” foods. Any time you attempt to deprive yourself of a treat, it only becomes more alluring in your mind. So, focus on trying these flavorful, autumn-themed veggies, and fill up on healthful calories. Then, if you have a bit of room left for pumpkin pie, you’re less likely to overindulge in dessert.

Parsnips. Many people have never even eaten parsnips, but they’re really not all that exotic. Parsnips are simply a cousin of carrots, but they’re sweeter (especially when cooked). Toss some parsnips into the pot with your carrots, or simply use in place of the old (but boring) staple.

Radishes. This zesty, crunchy vegetable is packed with vitamin C, folate, calcium, and magnesium. Toss some sliced radishes into your salad, or try roasted them in a dish for added sweetness. For an old-fashioned spin on your meal, pick up a jar of the pickled variety.

Beets. Rich in fiber, potassium, and protein, roasted beets add a distinct fall flavor to salads. Or, you can include them in roasted veggie dishes, or even create your own beet sauce as a nutritious substitute to the traditional cranberry.

Cauliflower. If mashed potatoes are your weakness, try mashed cauliflower instead! It’s much lower in calories, and many people swear they can barely tell a difference.

Turnips. These nutrient-dense root vegetables soak up the flavor of any dish, so try them in stews or stuffings. Some people enjoy them boiled and mashed, like potatoes.

Sometimes the key to breaking old, unhealthy habits is to replace them with newer, healthier ones. This Thanksgiving might be the perfect time to try a few new-to-you vegetables. You might even find a new favorite! And, of course, remember that one day won’t wreck your weight loss plan. Just try to mostly fill up on lower-calorie, healthy dishes, so that you can feel safe indulging in small portions of a few of your old favorites.