A Heart-Healthy Thanksgiving Menu

By Andrea Cohen

Published 10/12/2023

Updated 10/11/2024

In This Article

Healthy Thanksgiving Appetizers
Healthy Thanksgiving Starters
Healthy Thanksgiving Main Dishes
Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Healthy Thanksgiving Desserts

Treat your heart right with this heart-healthy Thanksgiving menu, complete with delicious low-fat and low-sodium Thanksgiving recipes.

We're going to show you how to create a heart healthy Thanksgiving menu that included all the traditional foods such as dressing, potatoes and pie made with ingredients that are better for you?

This Thanksgiving, you can prepare a traditional healthy feast with less fat, lower sodium and fewer calories by following these tried-and-true heart healthy Thanksgiving recipes.

These popular heart healthy Thanksgiving recipes are so traditional tasting, no one will realize this food is good for them. Guests will be so busy licking their lips and thanking you for a delicious meal, you will need to remind them that you’re helping to keep everyone’s heart healthier by serving a Thanksgiving dinner that is low fat, low sodium and lower in calories than more traditional holiday fare.

Ready to wow your guests with great taste while being good to their hearts? Try some of the recipes in this delicious heart-healthy Thanksgiving menu.

Heart-Healthy Thanksgiving Menu

Each section of this menu has a selection of heart healthy Thanksgiving recipes (click on the links to see the full recipes). Make a few or make them all – it’s up to you! They’re all delicious and have all been certified by our team of registered dietitians as being lower in fat, sodium and calories than most traditional Thanksgiving recipes.

Healthy Thanksgiving Appetizers
Before the meal even gets started, treat your guests to a selection of healthy appetizers and finger foods that are loaded with taste, not fat or sodium.
- Butternut Squash Dip
  
  105 mins
  
  View Recipe
Healthy Thanksgiving Starters
As you sit down at the table, begin the meal with a soup or salad course that contains all the flavors of the season while still being good for your heart and your waistline.
- Sweet Potato Ginger Soup
  
  90 mins
  
  View Recipe
Healthy Thanksgiving Main Dishes
The star of the show is Thanksgiving turkey, which is a naturally low-fat food food when you follow one of our healthy turkey recipes. If you want to serve something other than turkey, we have healthy beef recipes or vegetarian dinner recipes, too.
- Roasted Turkey Breast with Root Vegetables
  
  120 mins
  
  View Recipe
Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Thanksgiving sides are often enjoyed more than the main entrée, but that’s where the fat, sodium and calories can really start to add up. With these heart healthy Thanksgiving side recipes, you can feel good knowing that the amount of saturated fat, sodium, sugar and calories are being kept in check.
- Homemade Cornbread
  
  30 mins
  
  View Recipe
Healthy Thanksgiving Desserts
Somehow everyone finds room for dessert at this festive holiday meal. The grand finale can really pack on the calories, but not with these healthy Thanksgiving desserts recipes! They’re lower in calories and have less added sugar than traditional desserts, although you may still want to watch portion sizes because they are a bit calorie dense.
- Pumpkin Pie
  
  75 mins
  
  View Recipe