Want A Healthy Thanksgiving, But Can't Cook? These Recipes Are For You

Confession: I can’t cook. I mean I can, but certainly nothing fancy — we’re talking scrambled eggs or lemon garlic chicken (that one’s pretty rare, actually).

So, it’s only natural that Thanksgiving meal prep intimidates me. How can one possibly balance so many dishes — each with their own list of ingredients? Don’t you get stressed when the water’s boiling, you can’t find your good knife, and all your guests are arriving in less than an hour?

On top of all of that: How do you manage to keep your meals healthy? Or at least healthier?

I’m obviously in need of some help here — so I talked to an expert. Mascha Davis is a registered dietician nutritionist based in Los Angeles.

Of course, she makes it all look very easy (but in an approachable way). Here's our conversation.

Q: What are your thoughts around what eating ‘healthy’ means, as we approach the holidays?

MD: A thing that I emphasize is that yes, food is for nourishment and nutrition, and getting our vitamins and minerals. But it’s also for celebration and bringing people together; it serves so many different purposes. It’s OK that not every single thing you eat is healthy. You don’t need to be overly hard on yourself during a time of year when there’s all this delicious food.

Q: How can we talk about health-focused, nutritious eating, without veering into conversations promoting unhealthy diet culture?

MD: Not restricting. The more we restrict something, the more we tend to crave it, and the less we feel in control about it. So, don’t skip breakfast the morning of Thanksgiving. If you’re hungry, eat a meal earlier in the day. Don’t “save up” because you’re just going to be ravenously hungry, and end up overeating most likely. You want to be nourishing your body the entire day.

Q: How can you make sure your plate is balanced with the right nutrients? (I tend to load up on the mashed potatoes). 

MD: I typically say to follow the rule of thirds when it comes to your plate. Instead of focusing on avoiding something, or keeping to certain macros, have a balanced plate — a third carbs, a third veggies, and a third protein. You’re then getting all of these different nutrients, but you have flexibility with what you’re actually selecting and putting on the plate.

Q: What about factoring in exercise and movement for a healthier holiday? 

MD: Movement is always so important. I believe the best movement is the one you enjoy. So, not forcing yourself to exercise just because you’re going to have a big meal. But doing it more because you want to take care of your body and mind and you want to feel good, whether it’s going on a walk or just doing your favorite workout.

Q: Alright, do you have any recipes for someone like me — who wants to practice healthy cooking but has no idea where to start? 

MD: Yes! First we have a DIY cranberry sauce. A lot of store bought cranberry sauces have excess fillers and gums, and a lot of excess sugar. This one is so easy to make, super zesty and delicious.

MD: There’s also a bone broth gravy. This one is a lot healthier than a store bought gravy, which is going to be really high in sodium. With bone broth, this one has additional benefits like all these different minerals and nutrients that can be good for joint health, bone health, gut health. This recipe is from Beauty & the Broth.

MD: And then, we have our cauliflower mashed potatoes. There’s nothing wrong with regular mashed potatoes, but cauliflower ones are really delicious too — and this is another simple recipe. It also gives a boost of fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K.

Q: And lastly, the holidays can bring up a lot of emotions. Any tips for keeping a healthy headspace this season? 

MD: My big tip is to check in with yourself. Especially if you’re eating with other people, it can be really easy to get distracted and lose touch with your internal hunger and fullness signals. I recommend taking a step away — like a bathroom break — so you can consciously check in on your body. Having that awareness can be so helpful and prevent mindless eating. Taking a moment to check in, and just step away, is really big.