First things first: I’m not saying you have to give up the beloved turkey sandwich. However, why not explore a few new ways to enjoy those Thanksgiving leftovers? After all, a day or three after the holiday, your fridge still bulges with extra turkey, cranberry sauce and those yummy sides.
You know Thanksgiving leftovers will taste good because you spend more time preparing the meal than actually eating it. And all the comfort foods – things you might not normally eat when you’re watching your waistline – fill the plate. This serves as a day to indulge – and with the leftovers, too.
Thanksgiving leftovers – they belong to the holiday as much as the feast itself. But turkey sandwiches can get old fast. The key: Do some planning.
Adding a few extra ingredients to the Thanksgiving shopping list will give the turkey, sides and sauces a fresh makeover the day after – and the next. You may even want to set aside food that doesn’t go to the Thanksgiving table so you don’t have to worry about having what’s needed to put together dishes for the days after Thanksgiving. No one will guess they’re leftovers.
Pizzas, soups, salads and casseroles – just a few of the dishes compiled from a typical leftover spread. You can also try pressing leftover stuffing into muffin cups to make a tasty nest for a cracked egg for breakfast. Pair it with our Pumpkin Pie Smoothie that uses the rest of the canned pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. Greek yogurt and protein powder pack the smoothie with protein.
For lunch or halftime football snacks, try our Turkey Bacon Ranch Pizza. Boost the fiber with a whole-wheat crust and include veggies such as spinach, onion, pepper and mushrooms. We’ve also included a Thanksgiving Panini, using leftover turkey and cranberry sauce, and Fresh Cranberry Pecan Muffins, using fresh cranberries and boosting the omega-3s and fiber with ground chia or flax.
Happy holidays!
