Chef Meg's Decadent, Delicious (and Healthy!) Thanksgiving Menus
An Entire Thanksgiving Meal--for 400 Calories!
As you know, the typical Thanksgiving meal can include more calories than some of us eat in two days (more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat, according to the Caloric Control Council)! Two years ago, I created SparkPeople's 500-Calorie Thanksgiving Feast. This year, I did even better. Not only do you get 7 brand-new recipes for Thanksgiving (plus several recipes and ideas from "The SparkPeople Cookbook"), but you get three sample menus. Thanks to my slimmed down but flavor-packed recipes, you can feast even if you aren't willing to blow your calorie budget. Would you believe that you can eat five different dishes, including dessert, for about 400 calories?
I hope these recipes will soon become family favorites and healthy staples on your Thanksgiving table.
400-Calorie Trim Thanksgiving
- Chef Meg's Herb Roasted Turkey*
- Chef Meg's Mini Apple Tarts* (1 tart)
- Green Bean Casserole* (1/2 serving)
- NEW: Chef Meg's Carrot-Cranberry Salad
- NEW: Chef Meg's Pumpkin Butter Acorn Squash
500-Calorie Thanksgiving Dinner
- NEW: Chef Meg's Escarole Salad with Gorgonzola-Walnut Apple Crisps
- Chef Meg's Herb Roasted Turkey* (1/2 serving)
- NEW: Chef Meg’s Creamy Corn Pudding
- Wild Rice with Roasted Shallots and Garlic*
- Chef Meg's Sweet Potato Tarts (1 tart)
600-Calorie Thanksgiving Feast
- Chef Meg's Pumpkin Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
- Roasted Red Potatoes with Garlic Herb Oil*
- NEW: Chef Meg's Carrot-Cranberry Salad
- Green Bean Casserole*
- Chef Meg's Herb Roasted Turkey* (1/2 serving)
- Chef Meg's Apple Cider Gravy
- NEW: Chef Meg's Cranberry-Orange Creme Brulee
Want more recipes? Keep reading!
Soups
| | Chef Meg's Roasted Squash Soup | 128 calories, 3 g fat, 6 g fiber |
| | Chef Meg's Roasted Vegetable Soup | 150 calories, 3 g fat, 7 g fiber |
| | Chef Meg's Pumpkin Soup with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds | 88 calories, 4 g fat, 2 g fiber |
| | Chilled Curry-Carrot Soup with Citrus Yogurt* | 160 calories, 4 g fat, 6 g fiber |
Side dishes: starches and whole grains
| | Chef Meg's Vegetable and Fruit Stuffing | 78 calories, 1 g fat, 2 g fiber |
| | Chef Meg's Roasted Root Vegetables* | 82 calories, 2 g fat, 3 g fiber |
| | Chef Meg's Whole Wheat Couscous with Spinach and Squash | 228 calories, 2 g fat, 10 g fiber |
| | Chef Meg's Herbed Bulgur and Lentil Salad* | 160 calories, 7 g fat, 6 g fiber |
| | Chef Meg's Vegetable Risotto | 220 calories, 8 g fat, 4 g fiber |
| | Baked Lemon Spiced Rice* | 142 calories, 3 g fat, 2 g fiber |
| | Farro Arugula Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette* | 240 calories, 13 g fat, 5 g fiber |
| | Roasted Red Potatoes with Garlic Herb Oil* | 94 calories, 4 g fat, 2 g fiber |
| | Wheat Berry and Broccoli Salad* | 138 calories, 5 g fat, 5 g fiber |
| | Wild Rice with Roasted Shallots and Garlic* | 97 calories, 0 g fat, 2 g fiber |
Side dishes: vegetables
| | NEW: Chef Meg's Carrot-Cranberry Salad | 87 calories, 0 g fat, 4 g fiber |
| | Chef Meg's Easy Steamed Vegetable Packets* | 54 calories, 0 g fat, 2 g fiber |
| | NEW: Chef Meg's Escarole Salad with Gorgonzola-Walnut Apple Crisps | 161 calories, 11 g fat, 2 g fiber |
| | NEW: Chef Meg's Pumpkin Butter Acorn Squash | 63 calories, 0 g fat, 3 g fiber |
| | Chef Meg's Roasted Beet Salad | 189 calories, 13 g fat, 4 g fiber |
| | NEW: Chef Meg’s Creamy Corn Pudding | 157 calories, 4 g fat, 4 g fiber |
| | Braised Spinach with Pine Nuts* | 32 calories, 2 g fat, 2 g fiber |
| | Braised Swiss Chard with Beans* | 168 calories, 2 g fat, 13 g fiber |
| | Grapefruit-Pear Salad with Fennel* | 171 calories, 8 g fat, 6 g fiber |
| | Green Bean Casserole* | 96 calories, 1 g fat, 4 g fiber |
| | Roasted Asparagus* | 30 calories, 0 g fat, 3 g fiber |
| | Sauteed Cumin Carrots* | 75 calories, 3 g fat, 3 g fiber |
| | Lunch Box Carrot Slaw with Apples* | 90 calories, 1 g fat, 4 g fiber |
| | Spinach Salad with Cherries and Pomegranate Vinaigrette* | 200 calories, 13 g fat, 4 g fiber |
| | Trio of Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic Glaze* | 64 calories, 4 g fat, 2 g fiber |
Main dishes and accoutrements:
| | Chef Meg's Herb Roasted Turkey* | 167.3 calories, 5.8 g fat |
| | Cornish Hens with Apple-Pecan Stuffing* | 252.8 calories, 10.0 g |
| | Chef Meg's Tofu-Squash Stew | 296.0 calories, 15.5 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Apple Cider Gravy | 20.0 calories, 0.0 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Cranberry Relish | 42.7 calories, 0.0 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Caramelized Onions* | 26.4 calories, 0.6 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Herb Roasted Garlic | 26.8 calories, 1.6 g fat |
| | NEW: Chef Meg's No Added Sugar Pumpkin-Apple Butter | 19.9 calories, 0.2 g fat |
Desserts:
| | NEW: Chef Meg's Cranberry-Orange Creme Brulee | 134.2 calories, 6.3 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Sweet Potato Tarts | 151.1 calories, 2.0 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Mini Apple Tarts* | 124.2 calories, 4.1 g fat |
| | NEW: Chef Meg's Nutty Baked Apples with Raisins (Diabetic Friendly) | 119.7 calories, 4.5 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Pumpkin Dip | 31.7 calories, 1.7 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Spice Cookies | 61.1 calories, 2.6 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix* | 8.9 calories, 0.3 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's 'Seedy' Pumpkin Pie | 168.4 calories, 7.2 g fat |
| | Chef Meg's Petite Pecan Tarts | 102.7 calories, 5.2 g fat |
Which of these recipes will be on your Thanksgiving table this year?
