Madeleine Hull
Thanksgiving is a time to indulge, but if you're on a keto diet, you might be wondering how to enjoy the holiday without compromising your lifestyle. The good news is that you can still have a delicious Thanksgiving meal that's keto-friendly with just a few simple swaps and adjustments. From the turkey to the dessert table, there are plenty of low-carb and keto options to choose from, so you don't have to miss out on the festivities.
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What You'll Learn
Keto-friendly sides and desserts
Thanksgiving is a time of indulgence, but if you're on a keto diet, there are plenty of options to enjoy the holiday without compromising your lifestyle. The key is to get creative with low-carb, keto-friendly alternatives to traditional favourites.
Sides
- Mashed cauliflower - a keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. You can add cream, butter, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Turnips - roast them and blend or mash with cream, butter, and seasonings.
- Green beans - a crunchy, low-carb option.
- Brussels sprouts - try them with bacon and onions for a keto-compliant side dish.
- Spaghetti squash - a low-carb vegetable option.
- Mushrooms - load up on these as a keto-friendly side.
Desserts
- Keto pumpkin pie - use a standard pumpkin pie recipe but swap out the sugar for a keto-approved sweetener like erythritol. Skip the crust and bake in ramekins for single servings.
- Keto maple pecan cheesecake bars - a delicious, low-carb dessert option.
- Keto chocolate fat bombs - a sweet treat that's perfect for keto dieters.
- Keto chocolate chip cookies - easy to make and great for those with dietary restrictions as they're grain-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free.
- Keto ice cream - opt for store-bought keto-friendly ice cream or make your own.
- Berries, melon, and cream - a simple, keto-friendly dessert option.
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Turkey alternatives
Turkey is a traditional centerpiece of a Thanksgiving meal, but if you are looking for alternatives, there are several vegetarian keto-friendly options to choose from.
Seitan "Turkey"
Seitan is a food product that is made by hydrating gluten, the main protein in wheat. It is often used as a meat substitute because of its texture and high protein content.
Veg Wellington
If you are comfortable with dairy and eggs, you can use fathead dough, which is a type of dough made from scratch that is keto-friendly, to make a vegetarian wellington.
Mushroom Gravy
Mushroom gravy is a good vegetarian alternative to traditional gravy. It can be made by melting butter in a pan, adding fresh sliced mushrooms, vegetable stock, and heavy cream.
Other Vegetarian Options
There are several other vegetarian keto-friendly dishes that can be served as a main course for Thanksgiving. These include broccoli and cheese casserole, a pumpkin cheesecake with a ground walnut crust, and a PB&J cheesecake.
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Low-carb vegetables
If you're looking for low-carb vegetables to eat at Thanksgiving, there are plenty of keto-friendly options to choose from. The best keto vegetables tend to be those that grow above ground, as root vegetables typically carry more carbs.
Some tasty keto-approved vegetable dishes include:
- Keto broccoli recipes, such as broccoli gratin or a fresh broccoli salad with bacon
- Keto Brussels sprouts recipes, such as sprouts with avocado and pecans, or sprouts with balsamic, Parmesan, and pine nuts
- Green beans, either roasted with mushrooms, balsamic, and Parmesan, or served crunchy and raw
- Keto asparagus wrapped in chilli-spiced bacon
- Keto air fryer zucchini fritters
- Keto cauliflower recipes, such as cauliflower mash, or cauliflower risotto
- Turnips, roasted and blended or mashed with cream, butter, and seasonings
Remember, when it comes to a low-carb keto lifestyle, some veggies can be more harmful than helpful to achieving your goals, so it's important to be mindful of your choices.
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Sugar alternatives
Erythritol
Erythritol is a keto-approved sweetener that can be used as a replacement for sugar in recipes. It is available in both brown and white sugar replacements. It is a common substitute used in pumpkin pie recipes.
Stevia
Derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, stevia is a natural sweetener that can easily fit into a low-carb or ketogenic diet. It can be used to add sweetness to dishes without the added carbs and calories.
Monk Fruit Sweetener
Monk fruit extract contains no calories or carbs, making it an excellent option for keto diets. It is significantly sweeter than regular sugar, so a little goes a long way. Monk fruit sweetener can be used in the same way as regular sugar in recipes.
Yacon Syrup
Yacon syrup is a sweetener rich in fructooligosaccharides, a type of fiber that the body cannot digest. It has been suggested that yacon syrup may help lower blood sugar and insulin levels. It can be used as a sweetener in beverages and dishes.
Sugar-Free Alternatives
In addition to these natural sweeteners, there are sugar-free alternatives that can be used in Thanksgiving dishes. For example, using sugar-free chocolate in desserts or opting for sugar-free drinks and mocktails. Diet Sunkist can also be used as a sugar-free alternative when making cranberry sauce.
By using these sugar alternatives, you can create delicious keto-friendly Thanksgiving meals and treats without compromising your dietary preferences.
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Alcoholic drinks
If you're on a keto diet, it's best to avoid sugary cocktails, beer, mixed drinks, and sweet wines. However, there are still plenty of alcoholic drinks you can enjoy. Pure distilled spirits, such as plain vodka, are a good option, especially when mixed with a splash of club soda or tonic. There are also several low-carb and low-sugar liquors and wines available, such as champagne, sparkling wine, dry wine, or whiskey.
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Frequently asked questions
Some keto-friendly Thanksgiving side dishes include mashed cauliflower, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, water, and a keto-friendly sweetener.
Pumpkin pie, crustless pumpkin jars with pecan streusel topping, keto chocolate fat bombs, keto chocolate chip cookies, and keto ice cream are all keto-friendly Thanksgiving desserts.
Consider time-restricted eating, use a smaller plate to reduce portion sizes, and bring your own carb-free, keto-friendly side dishes to share.
Yes, but it is recommended to stick to pure distilled spirits like plain vodka mixed with a splash of club soda or tonic.
Sausage balls made with almond flour and ultra-thin slices of apple are a keto-friendly Thanksgiving appetizer.
