If you’re trying to keep the holidays one hundred this year I’ve rounded up a few tricks to eat and drink clean-ish!
Eat
Load up on the turkey. Its a clean protein that will fill you up and alleviate any cravings or rounds 3 & 4. Next comes turkey’s BFF gravy. It’s traditionally made with flour, or cornstarch, or a cream. Spices and herbs could be a great flavor replacement.
If you are in charge of contributing one of the dishes of the evening you could take on the stuffing or cranberry sauce and elevate it a bit. Stuffing doesn’t have to be majority carbs. Bring a grain-free stuffing and see if you can convert some family members. On to the cranberry sauce, monk fruit and orange zest can add a sweet taste to hold off on the white sugar. If you are trying to be mindful, cranberries contain sugar on their own + the amount you have to add, so if you’re not attached, save your sugar in take for a dessert or wine, or both.
And don’t troll me for this one, I’ve almost come to like cauliflower mash better than mashed potatoes. Something about it is lighter and maybe holds flavor better? I don’t know! But, I do know that it is the easiest Thanksgiving prank to play on yourself. Jazz it up with Kite Hill “cream cheese” or Kerrygold butter; there are so many recipes and I’ve linked one here.
One easy way to make sure you get enough fiber on this merry day? Bring a salad! This one by Ina Garten would be perfect; it has a yummy autumn tone.
Last but never least, dessert. No one says no to more desserts. So, if there is a delicious grain-free, or gluten-free, refined sugar-free dessert you have in mind, bring it! I’m making Rachel Mansfield’s paleo pumpkin chocolate cupcakes, you can find the recipe here and so many other options.
Drink
Wine
Have you heard about natural or biodynamic wine yet? I come from a long line of wine drinkers; so I’ve done a few years of taste testing, and people say we have no talent (trademark Kris Jenner)! I’ve gotten more conscious about the ingredients I eat and in turn it has spilled over into what I drank (the alcohol version of drink).
We started dabbling in organically farmed wine, organic wine, and now biodynamic, which is like the mystical Ivy League version of organic. Some will say it’s a little “earthy”, but simply put it is a holistic way of wine agriculture.
My best advice is to find an organic wine & liquor store in your city. If you are in Dallas, Bar & Garden is you new nirvana. This way you can detail your normal pallet and how much you’d like to spend and they can use their expertise.
My thought process is this: how many grocery stores and liquor stores carry Educated Guess or Meiomi? I guess every damn Tom Thumb or Kroger! So they are definitely adding something in to the wine! If you shop small batch wine or organic/biodynamic wine you can feel good about being bad. Be a chic lush and research into what you’re drinking, the wine maker, the region, the philosophy (and I promise you don’t have to spend a ton!).
I apologize for the wine nerd rant! But, save your hangover and holiday conversation from politics and fam drama, drink bio and be merry!
Spirits
One thing my sister Averey and I found was that you can make a good, “normal” simple syrup with monk fruit. Make it yourself and enjoy an elevated cocktail that’s not bogged down with sugar.
If you’re a vodka gal, go Chopin, the potato vodka. This news may sadden the state of Texas, our great claim to fame Titos is made with GMO corn. I’m sorry to do this to you. But, you can also go organic; there are organic vodkas made from grapes. Who knew!
Have a beautiful Thanksgiving! I’m very thankful for my family and friends, perhaps the only people reading these at the moment. 🙂
xx, Kalain
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