Thanksgiving Healthy Holiday Recipes for a Culture of Health Holiday

‘Tis the season to enjoy food! Last Thanksgiving day we were going around the room sharing what we’re thankful for. Our 10-year-old granddaughter Allie said enthusiastically and emphatically, “Food”.

Yes, Allie has always loved her food and so do the rest of us.

And guess what? We can enjoy tasty, delicious, colorful food that’s very healthy too.

Most of the healthy holiday recipes that we fix for our Thanksgiving Day feast fall in the Class A eating plan of my healing and healthy cookbook, Dr. Jo’s Natural Healing Cookbook. If you’re familiar with it you will remember that Class A foods serve your body the best, are the most easily digested, allow your blood sugar to stabilize and keep you very satisfied because your body finally realizes that it’s getting real nutrition. When you eat nutrient dense food your appestat says, “Oh my, I finally am receiving what this body really needs.” And so the constant cravings stop.

These Tillman Family healthy holiday recipe traditional dishes fall in the Class A category:

The Turkey

Corn bread and rice bread stuffing for turkey

Corn Bread

Mashed potatoes

Gravy

Baked yams

Vegetable salad

Class B dishes

Cranberry sauce (apple juice concentrate as sweetener)

Rolls

Pies (fruit juice sweetened)

Class C

Real whipped cream sweetened with a bit of honey

Fruit juice concentrate blend with Sparkling water as our punch

And except for the whipped cream which can always be optional, they are gluten free and dairy free.

This year I’m planning to introduce a new really healthy hot drink in the crock pot to keep it warm. Green tea has powerful protective antioxidants that become even more effective when lemon juice is added to the tea. I don’t like the taste of plain green tea so I add dried peppermint and dried stevia leaves to my brew. These two plants grow in my garden and then dry on top of my refrigerator. You may have to use powdered stevia from the health food store.

Here’s my Citrus – Peppermint – Stevia Green Tea Recipe:

Bring 1 quart of purified water to simmer.

Turn off burner

Steep 3 green tea bags in water for 1 ½ minutes.

Remove bags.

Add 1-2 teaspoons of peppermint leaves and 2-3 dried stevia leaves to an infuser that sits in the hot water for as long as you want. The longer the leaves are in the water, the sweeter and better the sweetness and flavor.

But the green tea bags should be removed after 1-2 minutes.

If you make this tea to drink just for yourself you can pour the 1-quart of green tea into a thermos right after you remove the tea bags. Then add the dried peppermint and stevia leaves to the thermos, cap it and you have hot tea for hours. Squeeze lemon juice into the tea just before drinking it.

Or prepare a bigger batch and keep it warm in a crock pot.

This citrus green tea is a great substitute for apple cider in a crock pot, which stresses the body and the liver with way too much fructose.

Another great possibility for an apple cider substitute: Season Rooibus tea with the usual apple cider spices, cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, etc. If you try it, let us know in the comments section below how it turned out and share your recipe with us.

You are so awesome at caring so much for your friends and family that you want to create a Culture of Health in your home, especially in this holiday season. No germs can get a foot hold in your house or your bodies!

Need some Appetizers?

I am so thankful for you!

In gratitude this Thanksgiving,

Dr. Jo

PS Have a great turkey day.