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Home » Blog » Blog

Easy Diabetes-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes

Published: Nov 12, 2012 · Modified: Sep 30, 2023 by Marisa Moore·

Add these diabetes-friendly recipes to your Thanksgiving table. From side dish and dessert recipes to entree ideas, these dishes are carb conscious, easy and healthy options!

A heaping helping of fried turkey, dressing and gravy, ham, macaroni and cheese, greens and a table of pies and cakes that spans the dining room wall. This is Thanksgiving in the South.  It’s a table of delight but if you have diabetes it can be a little difficult to navigate at first.

No matter where you live, your Thanksgiving table doesn’t have to spell disaster.

Tips for a diabetes-friendly Thanksgiving

Green beans in saute pan.

Volumize with veggies

Vegetables are the most diabetes-friendly foods on the planet. Add more vegetables to the table.

Fill half your plate with vegetables. Try garlicky green beans, air fryer Brussels sprouts and braised collard greens. 

In the south, collards and other greens are a must at Thanksgiving. But you can serve a variety of different options for you and guests to enjoy. My Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts are a hit. They can be served warm or at room temperature and the walnuts add a dose of crunch and healthy fats to the dish.

Play up the turkey

Most Thanksgiving tables center around the turkey. Adorn the turkey with aromatics like onions and carrots and fresh sage to add an extra flavor boost.  

Slow roasted turkey is a flavorful, lean protein that won’t raise your blood sugar. Use the drippings to season your vegetables or stuffing.

Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce and Skewers

For something completely different, try Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs shown above. These turkey meatballs are perfect for a Friendsgiving celebration or to serve as appetizers throughout the holiday season. The cranberry dipping sauce adds a few more carbs but it is quite balanced all things considered.

Sweet potato pie jars

Add fruit or vegetables to dessert

Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and therefore a great dessert starter.  Because it’s so low in calories, pumpkin is another delicious base for desserts. Think pumpkin pie, butternut squash pie, whipped sweet potato pudding. 

You can also play up pears and apples with cinnamon and whipped cream or dollop of vanilla yogurt. These work well as a topping for breakfast oats over the weekend too.

Wild Rice Stuffing in a white bowl with an orange casserole dish in the background.

Focus on flavor

Instead of the packaged foods, make your own stuffing using fresh celery, onions, sage and thyme to for bold flavor. 

Add vanilla, extra cinnamon and nutmeg to cut back on the sugar and butter in sweet potato dishes.

Go light on the butter and cream and add fresh garlic and vegetable broth to mashed potatoes for deep, satisfying flavor. 

Take a walk

Moving your muscles can help control blood sugar levels. Go for a morning run or a brisk walk before or after dinner to burn off some of the extra holiday grub.

And keep stress at bay. Keeping up with your physical activity can help with stress management with also helps keep blood sugar in check.

Remember, Thanksgiving is only one day.  If you’re still eating pumpkin pie on Sunday, I’d be surprised… enjoy the holiday, your family and the food while you can.

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Filed Under: Blog, Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Seasonal

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MARISA MOORE

Hi! I'm Marisa, a registered dietitian nutritionist living in Atlanta, GA. I use this blog to share (mostly) vegetarian recipes, credible nutrition information and a peek into my Southern roots and travels!

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