Here’s good news for people who have loads of Thanksgiving leftovers. You don’t have to suffer through the same meal day after day or toss your excess mashed potatoes. Nor do you have to follow those tired – and potentially unhealthy – techniques your grandmother used to empty the fridge. These up-to-date tips will help you easily transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into better-for-you meals using on-trend ingredients such as winter greens, healthy grains and Malaysian certified sustainable palm oil.
Turn your leftover into soup. Soups are easy to make and very forgiving. Toss your extra carrots and green beans into a pot along with your turkey scraps and some wild rice, quinoa or whole grain pasta. Simmer with some chicken or turkey broth. You can even add some leftover turkey gravy for a richer flavor.
Upcycle your leftover mashed potatoes. Refresh your mashed potatoes by combining them with trendy ingredients such as mashed root vegetables – parsnips work especially well – and tangy goat cheese. Use your imagination to create a new family favorite. Gather some inspiration from this recipe which uses celery root and Malaysian sustainable palm oil.
Make a healthier next-day casserole. Some families turn their leftover turkey, veggies and stuffing into a casserole by tossing them into a pan and topping with a refrigerated dough product. While convenient, some packaged crescent roll and pie crusts contain trans fats or other unhealthy ingredients. Instead, gather the family to make easy, homemade drop biscuits. They require just a handful of simple ingredients and take just minutes to prepare.
Keep your turkey au natural. Can’t stomach turkey without gravy? Resist the urge to resort to packaged gravy. Some premade gravies contain partially hydrogenated oils as well as monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate and artificial colors. Instead use your turkey as a topper for a seasonal green salad. This dressing made with sherry vinegar and non-GMO Malaysian sustainable palm oil will add robust flavor to day-old turkey.
Go ahead and enjoy the leftover pie. Don’t let the fear of fat keep you from enjoying leftover pie. Studies have shown that avoiding fat – something we all did a decade ago – was not only wrong, but perhaps even hazardous to our health. So go ahead and dine on decadent leftover pecan or pumpkin pie. Fat is an essential part of a healthy diet.
Biography: Dr. Felicia D. Stoler
Dr. Felicia D. Stoler, America’s Health & Wellness Expert™, is a registered dietitian nutritionist, exercise physiologist and expert consultant in nutrition and healthful living. She was the host for TLC’s reality show, Honey We’re Killing the Kids. She is the author of Living Skinny in Fat Genes™: The Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Feel Great (Pegasus 2011). She specializes in integrating behavior modification to influence positive health outcomes.
