Enjoying Thanksgiving Favorites While Sticking to Your Keto Diet
The holidays are a time for enjoying comforting, delicious foods with family and friends. However, those following a ketogenic diet often find the carb-heavy dishes served at Thanksgiving challenging. You may worry about missing out on your favorite Thanksgiving fare or struggle to stay on track with your keto diet.
The good news is you can still enjoy all the flavors of Thanksgiving without the guilt or falling off the keto wagon. There are many easy keto twists on classic Thanksgiving recipes that allow you to partake in the festivities. With a little planning and creativity, you can serve keto-friendly sides and alternatives that are just as satisfying.
Keto-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Thanksgiving Favorites
If you want all the taste of Thanksgiving favorites without the excess carbs, these recipes allow you to recreate holiday staples into keto-approved dishes:
- Mashed cauliflower "potatoes" - By substituting cauliflower for regular potatoes, you can still enjoy a creamy, comfort food dish
- Turkey roast with herb butter - Roasted turkey is already keto-friendly; adding savory herb butter enhances flavor
- Green bean casserole - Made with reduced carb mushroom soup and crispy fried shallots or onions
- Keto cornbread stuffing - Swap out regular cornbread for a keto version to enjoy fluffy stuffing
- Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon - Brussels sprouts roasted in bacon fat is a delicious low-carb veggie side
- Pumpkin custard - Skip the classic sugary pie and enjoy rich pumpkin custard sweetened with zero-carb sweeteners instead
Satisfying Low-Carb Thanksgiving Sides
In addition to recreating high-carb dishes, simply prepare fresh vegetables accentuated with herbs, spices, cheese, and other keto-approved ingredients. Get creative with these tasty low-carb Thanksgiving sides:
- Roasted broccoli with Parmesan
- Green beans amandine with slivered almonds
- Maple cinnamon butternut squash
- Zucchini gratin with cream and Gruyere
- Cauliflower mash with bacon and cheddar
Vibrant green veggies, fiber-rich squash, and luxurious cheese or cream-based dishes pair perfectly with the other Thanksgiving favorites without derailing your keto efforts.
Tips for Sticking to Keto Through the Holidays
With some planning and willpower, you can stay on track with keto even during food-focused holidays like Thanksgiving. Here are some helpful tips:
Eat Before Attending Gatherings
Arrive at Thanksgiving dinner on a satiated stomach. Before the big meal, fuel up on something small but high fat and low carb like deviled eggs or a bacon and avocado salad. You’ll be less tempted to gorge on carby dishes out of hunger.
Bring Your Own Keto-Friendly Recipes
Offer to contribute a couple low-carb dishes like roasted Brussels sprouts with pancetta or keto pumpkin pie. That way you’ll have safe options to fill your plate.
Focus on Keto-Friendly Choices
Turkey, gravy, green veggies, cheese plates, and other Thanksgiving basics fit into keto diets easily. Fill your plate with those instead of mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, rolls, or desserts.
Politely Refuse High-Carb Foods
When friends and family inevitably offer you carb-laden foods, have a polite refusal ready. “No thank you, I’m avoiding carbs and sugar today,” does the trick. For many hosts, it’s even trendy and impressive to eat low-carb.
Bring Your Own Keto Treats
Satisfy your sweet tooth without derailing ketosis by bringing keto pumpkin pie, pecan pie bars, or chocolate mousse to share. Or keep keto sweets packed just for you!
Keto-Friendly Thanksgiving Menu
With the right recipes and balanced approach, you can design a Thanksgiving menu everyone will love while keeping it low-carb:
Main Dishes
- Herb-roasted turkey
- Garlic rosemary pork loin
- Beef tenderloin
Sides
- Roasted Brussels sprouts and bacon
- Green beans amandine with sliced almonds
- Mashed cauliflower
- Kale salad with roasted squash, pomegranate arils, and pumpkin seeds
Beverages
- Dry white wine or champagne
- Sparkling water infusions
- Unsweetened iced tea
Desserts
- Pumpkin custard
- Pecan chocolate fat bombs
- Whipped cream with berries
With the growing popularity of low-carb and ketogenic diets, no one will even miss old-fashioned carby sides and desserts.
Keto-Friendly Thanksgiving Tips
Here are some last tips for cruising through the holidays without falling off course:
- Meal prep low-carb dishes to bring to gatherings
- Study menus and nutrition info at restaurants ahead of time
- Politely pass on higher-carb offerings
- Bring keto-approved sweets to share
- Focus your plate on protein and green veggies
- Stay hydrated with unsweetened drinks
- Don’t be afraid to leave food on your plate
With the right mindset and preparations, you can enjoy all the festive flavors of Thanksgiving while maintaining your keto diet.
FAQs
What are some good keto vegetable side dishes I can take to Thanksgiving dinner?
Great keto-friendly vegetable sides include roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, green beans amandine with slivered almonds, and maple cinnamon roasted butternut squash. Zucchini gratin and cauliflower mash also make tasty and satisfying low-carb vegetable sides.
What can I use to replace mashed potatoes?
Cauliflower makes an excellent low-carb stand-in for mashed potatoes. Simply steam or boil cauliflower florets until very soft, then mash with butter, cream cheese, sour cream, or other high-fat dairy. Mix in garlic, herbs, cheese, bacon, or other flavor boosters.
What desserts can I eat on the keto diet during the holidays?
Delicious keto-approved Thanksgiving desserts include pumpkin custard, pecan chocolate fat bombs, whipped cream with fresh berries, and nutty crust-free cheesecake. There are also many great keto pie recipes using nut flour crusts and low-carb fillings.
What can I drink besides water on Thanksgiving that's keto-friendly?
Dry wines like sauvignon blanc or champagne make nice low-carb alcohol options. For non-alcoholic drinks, enjoy unsweetened iced tea or coffee, sparking water with lemon or lime, or herbal tea. Adding cinnamon sticks, citrus slices, or herbs to hot tea or water infuses extra flavor.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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