How to Make a Healthy Turkey Dinner

Many people choose to serve a turkey dinner during the holidays. But, why not serve this delicious meal year round? What's that? Oh, I see. You're afraid of the fat and calories found in a typical turkey dinner. Don't be. This meal can actually be quite healthy. In this article, I'll teach you how to make a turkey dinner that can be enjoyed all year long.

The first step to preparing a healthy turkey dinner is to start with the turkey. You'll cut fat and calories by simply switching to a breast, rather than a whole turkey. The fat and calories are mostly located in the legs and thighs. Plus, a breast is much easier and quicker to prepare. Another tip to keep your turkey healthy is to use olive oil in place of butter. The olive oil will make your turkey breast look nice and golden without adding unhealthy calories. Also don't forget to add sea salt, cracked pepper, and a few herbs under the skin. Last, but not least, don't eat the skin. If you remove the skin before baking though, the meat will be extremely dry. Keep it on while baking, but remove before serving.

The next step to preparing a healthy turkey dinner is to choose healthy sides. The easiest way to make healthy vegetables for your healthy turkey dinner is to choose steamed varieties. When it comes to mashed potatoes, you can flavor them with fat-free buttermilk and roasted garlic. Of course, you can't forget the cranberry sauce. For this side dish, I definitely recommend homemade. Use fresh or frozen cranberries and Splenda to turn this into a healthy side dish. Last, but not least, choose whole wheat rolls for your healthy turkey dinner.

The last step is to prepare a healthy dessert to go with your healthy turkey dinner. While pumpkin pie works wonderfully with a turkey dinner, it can be a bit high in fat and calories. Instead, use fat-free whipped topping, sugar-free vanilla pudding, pumpkin puree, and spices to make a delicious pumpkin mousse.