Photo: Anecdotes and Apples
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many of us are looking forward to a table full of delicious and healthy foods. Seasonal vegetables, whole grain rolls, and lean turkey are all excellent choices.
But how do you eat healthy when it comes to Thanksgiving dessert? A small slice of pecan pie contains over 20 grams of fat and 450 calories. Add a dollop of whipped cream and a few of your aunt’s favorite cookies, and you’ve ingested more than a fair share of fat and sugar. But Thanksgiving just isn’t the same without those classic pies. Instead of foregoing a trip to the dessert table, bring a healthy and delicious Thanksgiving pie to share with your family and friends. Read on to learn how to make your favorite pie a little more wholesome and just as satisfying.
Apple Pie
Opt for a single crust pie recipe. Most of the fat in Thanksgiving pies can be found in the crust. By eliminating the top layer of crust and adding a crunchy topping, your apple pie can steal the show. A combination of oats, brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon makes for a delicious and wholesome top layer. The oats and pecans offer far more nutrients than the butter-laden crust they’re replacing. Erin from the Healthy Apron has a great healthy apple pie recipe worth trying this Thanksgiving. And when you’re making your filling for this apple pie, be sure to purchase organic apples and feel free to reduce the sugar. Apples are sweet enough on their own!
Pumpkin Pie
A graham cracker crust is an excellent way to add some fiber to your Thanksgiving pie menu. Back to Nature sells a honey-sweetened graham cracker that tastes great on its own and even better as the wholesome base for a pumpkin pie. This pumpkin pie recipe replaces refined sugar with a generous helping of honey. Instead of purchasing a can of Libby’s pumpkin, you roast a whole pumpkin (just think of all those yummy pumpkin seeds!). You’ll enjoy making a pumpkin pie that doesn’t require cans of processed food, and the result will be just as satisfying as the original version. Everyone will be happy to know that this pumpkin pie is as good for your body as it is for your soul.
Sweet Potato Pie
If you’re tired of the traditional apple pie and pumpkin pie, consider making this Southern classic — the sweet potato pie. Sweet potatoes are chock-full of healthy nutrients and fiber, making this pie a nutritional powerhouse. And because these orange tubers are already sweet, this Thanksgiving pie requires less sugar. Add in a hefty sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg and your guests will be asking for a recipe card. You’ll feel great knowing that you featured a seasonal vegetable, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t happen upon a sweet potato pie sooner.
So remember that almost all Thanksgiving pies can be healthy and delicious indulgences. Cut back on sugar, swap out pie crusts and rely on organic ingredients, such as apples, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. Your taste buds and your body will thank you!
About Monet Moutrie
Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.
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