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5 low carb Thanksgiving recipes for the family
Living with type 1 diabetes (t1d) can make the Thanksgiving meal a little tricky to navigate. Thankfully, turkey is naturally low in carbs, but traditional Thanksgiving side dishes can send your blood sugar soaring. The solution? Lower-carb side dishes the whole family will enjoy. Try serving one — or all! — of these five delicious and low carb Thanksgiving recipes at your holiday gathering this year:
1. Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple-Mustard Dressing
Leave some room in your oven by making this no-cook side dish. It's a heart-healthy, high-fiber salad recipe from Healthy(ish) Appetite with only seven ingredients that you can whip up in minutes.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced
- 1 apple, grated
- ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon coarse ground Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Nutrition
Amount per serving: 107 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber
2. Cauliflower Rice Pilaf with Toasted Pine Nuts
A great source of vitamin C, antioxidants, and folate, riced cauliflower makes a great low carb substitute for the traditional, heavier potato sides. Enjoy this recipe with your family from Laurel Ann Nutrition.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 4 cups cauliflower rice (use frozen to speed up your prep time)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Nutrition
Amount per serving: 110 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 2.5 net carbohydrates, 3 grams of protein
3. Green Beans Almondine
This classic side dish from Delicious Meets Healthy is full of vitamins and is bound to please everyone at your table. The bonus: It takes just minutes to make. If you're in a pinch, you can make this dish ahead of time and reheat it just before dinner, adding the almond garnish right before serving.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed
- 2 tablespoons light olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- Juice of a half lemon
- ⅓ cup slivered almonds
Nutrition
Amount per serving: 152 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 12 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 4 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber
4. Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
When you crave mashed potatoes but you don't want the carbs, mashed cauliflower is the answer. A forkful of this garlicky goodness from Skinny Taste will have you going back for more — and it's made with only five ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- ⅓ cup 1% buttermilk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
Nutrition
Amount per serving: 62 calories, 8.5 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber
5. Creamed Spinach
Craving something rich and creamy but don't want to risk running your blood sugars up? Cheesy creamed spinach from Allrecipes will just about do the trick. It's like dessert and vegetables all rolled into one!
Ingredients
- 3 (10-ounce) bags fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons white onion, minced
- 6 slices provolone cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- Salt and pepper
Nutrition
Amount per serving: 244 calories, 5.3 grams of carbohydrates, 21.6 grams of fat, 9.1 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber
If these low carb Thanksgiving recipes make you crave more fall flavors, take a look at these seven diabetes-friendly pumpkin recipes. Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
