Holiday Cooking

[KC12]

I know Thanksgiving is well over a month away, but I have been thinking about how best to navigate it (and Christmas) this year. In my family, I am normally responsible for making the stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits and (sometimes) dessert. I personally am lowering my carb intake and all the dishes I make are pretty much all carbs. Any tasty alternatives? Ways to make the same dishes, but a smidge healthier?

[Stephen1227]

Hi Keisha!  Sounds like Thanksgiving and Christmas are loving, happy holidays for you and your family.  Wonderful!    While I don't think there is a tasty alternative to real turkey, I recommend an excellent site called The Simple Veganista        www.thesimpleveganista.blogspot.com  

They should have some healthy mashed potato and other veggie and dessert alternatives.  

[KC12]

Thanks! There was a fennel & potato soup recipe on the site that I can probably turn into mashed potatoes by using less liquid. Or maybe my family can start a new tradition of Thanksgiving soup.

[Stephen1227]

You are very welcome, Keisha! 

[carl669]

you can also try mashed celery root. it has about half the carbs of a potato (14g/cup celery root vs 26g/cup potato).  i've done that and it's quite tasty.

i've also been meaning to try this (8g carb/cup).  based on the comments, it's sounds like a winner.:

http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2012/01/better-than-potatoes-cheesy-cauliflower.html

can i ask how much you are reducing your carb intake?  i'm low carb as well (30g/day).  but, i do make certain exceptions for big get togethers like thanksgiving.  i don't go wild and pile 3lbs of potatos on my plate though.  i'll have enough potato/stuffing/cranberry/whatever to enjoy myself, but i'll mainly stick to eating the meat.  i enjoy cooking for others and since they're not low carbing, i'll still make the standard fare for them, but just limit my portion sizes.