Support Health and Beauty in Your Thanksgiving Meal

Support Health and Beauty in Your Thanksgiving Meal!

It’s finally FALL! And with so much nutritional information at our fingertips, it’s fun to plan for seasonal festiviites, while maintaining health and beauty. Meal prepping is quite popular these days, so grab your favorite recipes, paper, pen, and prepare to thrill your senses, tastebuds and wellness!

Envision Your Meal

Imagine and THINK…of a variety of food groups, colors, flavors. Traditional Menu? Grandma’s treasured recipes? New recipes, maybe a bit of both? Take time to plan. Shop for fresh ingredients and prepare!

An Abundance of Nutrients

According to healthline, Ryan Raman, MS, RD writes that the following ingredients found in many holiday recipes contain nutrients that support healthy hair and body! 

Eggs filled with protein and biotin, great deviled or prepared in other dishes.

Berries are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C! Enjoy cranberries, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries in sauces, salads and desserts.

Spinach and other leafy greens are loaded with beneficial nutrients like folate, iron, and vitamins A and C, and work in salads and is also great cooked!

Sweet potatoes, are a great source of beta-carotene. The body converts this compound into vitamin A, which is linked to good hair health. 

Nuts provide a wide variety of B vitamins, zinc and essential fatty acids, so enjoy that piece of pecan pie

Turkey, hams, other meats provide protein and fat. Choose the whole bird or ham, cooking the bones gives you access to the rich collagen health benefits too!

Enjoy a Variety of Flavors

Did you know a variety of flavors help to satisfy your hunger? In Ayurveda, healthy meals include all 6 flavors, creating a satisfying meal. Have fun and plan to have sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent flavors on your table.“Each of the 6 flavors have beneficial effects on the body, according to ayurvedic thought.”

Examples from the six flavor groups according to Mother Nature News Network are:

Sweet Pastas, grains, rice, dairy, chicken, fish, meat - foods that are filling, soothing satisfying

Sour Citrus, of course, but also alcohol, tomatoes, berries, pickled foods, yogurt and salad dressings

Salty Includes salt and salted foods

Pungent The spicy stuff: peppers, chilies, onions, garlic, cayenne, black pepper, cloves, ginger and mustards are all on that list. 

Bitter Veggies like green leafies, kale, celery, broccoli, sprouts and beets

Astringent Lentils and dried beans, apples, grapes, cauliflower and tea. mustards are all on that list. 

 The recipes for the days ahead are up to you, make it fun, full of flavor and nutritional! The possibilities are infinite, and the gratitude for the season, your loved ones and health are what it’s all about! Enjoy! 

About the author:

April Wilson is a full-time public school teacher, a yoga practicioner and instructor.