November 19, 2015
Jolene Hart/Beauty Is Wellness
Sweet potato pecan risotto recipe by Philadelphia holistic health coach and blogger Jolene Hart.
There’s a secret to eating your full on Thanksgiving without wreaking havoc on your diet.
Don’t worry, we’re not telling you to pass on the stuffing and pumpkin pie. Instead, the solution to a satisfying holiday meal is in the ingredients – sides made with whole, fresh and nutrient-rich ingredients that don’t come from a can.
Below are four healthier recipes by local food bloggers that would bring perfect balance to your holiday spread.
First, let's start with something that may be difficult for some people: Skipping the can of congealed cranberry sauce.
We get it, change is scary, and those perfect, molded, sliced disks of cranberry stuff are part of the tradition at many tables. But the real, homemade version is just as sweet and super simple to make. It's actually better, in our opinion.
This recipe was published on Drexel University's now-defunct foodie website, Table Matters, by nutrition and food science major Alicia Lamoureux.
Lamoureux writes, "For a holiday built around a soulful home-cooked feast, there sure are a lot of ingredients that come straight from a can or box."
Later, she adds, "Realizing the simplicity of making homemade cranberry sauce made me ever question why I was ever so devoted to scooping it out from a can."
Get the recipe here.
This recipe, pictured above, was imagined by Philadelphia holistic nutrition coach and wellness warrior Jolene Hart. Hart is also the author of "Eat Pretty," a cookbook/information guide on eating with the seasons and its benefits on the body.
Hart shares her sweet potato pecan risotto recipe on her blog, writing, "If you approach your holiday meal with a little know-how about the fall foods that are best for your beauty and body, you'll come away with a satisfied belly AND a beauty nutrition boost."
Get the recipe here.
Philadelphia-area plant-based food blogger Dawn Carlock's blog is chock-full of healthy veg-inspired recipes, but few bear an all-caps title of "BEST EVER" like her homemade pumpkin bread.
According to Carlock, the recipe is high protein and whole grain without compromising on flavor.
Get the recipe here.
We can't end a recipe roundup without giving a nod to Philly Food Girl.
This apple tart recipe was created by happenstance - too many apples, no clue what to do with them - and turned into a Thanksgiving all-in-one tart.
"I happen to have a roll of croissant dough in my refrigerator," Philly Food Girl writes on the recipe post.
A few ingredients later and a dollop of whipped cream and you have a recipe packed with fruit and flavor.
Get the recipe here.
