Healthy Diabetic Diet Thanksgiving Recipes

Featured Recipes

Maple-Pumpkin Custards with Crystallized Ginger

A Thanksgiving meal wouldn't be complete without pumpkin, and here in Vermont we wouldn't dream of excluding our beloved maple syrup. We've combined the two in these elegant custards, featuring the best part of a pumpkin pie and saving calories for a luscious finish of real whipped cream. If you can find it, use Grade B dark amber syrup to get the best maple flavor.

» Maple-Pumpkin Custards with Crystallized Ginger

Sweet Potato Casserole

This scrumptious sweet potato casserole gets fabulous flavor from honey and freshly grated orange zest rather than the traditional stick of butter. To complete the healthy makeover we sprinkle a crunchy pecan streusel spiked with orange juice concentrate over the top. You can save the marshmallows for s'mores.

» Sweet Potato Casserole

Crunchy Pear & Celery Salad

Crisp pears are tossed with Cheddar cheese and pecans in this delicious salad. For an Italian twist, try a good Parmesan with some toasted pine nuts or to go British use crumbled Stilton and toasted walnuts.

» Crunchy Pear & Celery Salad

Soft Whole-Wheat Dinner Rolls

Finding tasty, healthy, whole-grain dinner rolls in the supermarket or even at a local bakery can be a challenge. Here's a not-too-big dinner roll you can feel good about serving for the holidays or any special occasion.

» Soft Whole-Wheat Dinner Rolls

Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts & Sage

Chestnuts and Brussels sprouts are a classic pair—the toasty, rich nuts balance the sprouts. This dish cuts down on the holiday oven gridlock because it can be done on the stovetop.

» Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts & Sage

Cornbread & Sausage Stuffing

Cornbread stuffing, a Southern favorite, is a nice change from more traditional white-bread stuffing. Our delectable recipe uses Italian turkey sausage, rather than pork, and omits all the butter and cream to cut the fat by two-thirds. The stuffing is lower in sodium as well and so easy to make that it's sure to become a favorite side year-round.

» Cornbread & Sausage Stuffing

Lemon-Garlic Roast Turkey & White-Wine Gravy

The zesty lemon-garlic rub for this turkey gives it amazing flavor. Instead of using a conventional supermarket turkey that's been “enhanced” with added sodium solution, here we brine a natural or organic turkey to keep the meat extra juicy without a lot of extra sodium.

» Lemon-Garlic Roast Turkey & White-Wine Gravy

Delicious Thanksgiving recipes for everyone at the table, including people with diabetes

Food plays a central role in family celebrations and holidays, especially at Thanksgiving. If you have diabetes—or if you’re cooking for someone who does—you don’t have to eat special foods or be excluded from what “everyone else” is eating. (In fact, everyone else should be taking their cue from what’s on your plate!)

Most of our diabetes-appropriate Thanksgiving recipes are low in calories (and between 1 to 2 1/2 carbohydrate servings), but any EatingWell recipe can fit into your diet. These Thanksgiving recipes are updates of classic dishes and twists on traditional fare, made healthy by using high-impact flavors like fresh herbs, spices and seasonal fruits and vegetables to minimize the need for gobs of butter, cream and salt. Enjoy!

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