Pumpkin Pie...My Thanksgiving Nemesis!

WOW, it is hard to believe we are almost to Thanksgiving, and right around the corner will be Christmas! I don’t know about you but this is always a festive time for me and my family. I love getting together with friends and family and celebrating the holidays. One thing I know for sure is there is always a LOT of food at these gatherings.
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With my “Quest to Be My Best” underway this does have me a little concerned. Seriously, who does not love Thanksgiving pies and Christmas cookies? Knowing that I cannot go “cold turkey” on all these delightful treats I have decided to try and find some healthier alternatives to these wonderful dishes.
For me Thanksgiving dinner is really not a problem, I much prefer cold turkey sandwiches to the traditional feast, but Pumpkin pie on the other hand is a whole different story.  So I went in search of a healthier alternative to making my traditional pumpkin pie this year and have found one that sounds delicious and worth trying.

Michelle’s Healthy Pumpkin Pie

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin (about 1 ¾ cup)
• 8 ounces skim milk (has a slight taste) or 8 ounces low-fat soymilk (has a slight taste)
• 3 egg whites
• 2⁄3 reduced fat graham cracker crust (take off the sides of the crust and discard)
• 1 teaspoon Stevia, a natural alternative to sugar and not an artificial sweetner
• pumpkin pie spice
• 2 egg whites, for the crust

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Mix pumpkin, milk, and egg whites until smooth.
3. Gradually stir in Stevia
4. Add the pumpkin pie spice; taste and add more if need be.
5. Pour into crust** and spread evenly.
6. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes then reduce the temperature to 350°F and bake for another 45 minutes (may vary depending on ovens).
7. Let cool and serve your favorite way.
8. **To make to crust less likely to turn soggy (like mine), beat some egg whites and brush over the crust and bake at 350°F for about 5 minutes.

Based off of the recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/healthy-pumpkin-pie-48131

I am pretty excited to try this out as one slice has only 36 calories. A traditional recipe has anywhere from 150-325 calories per slice.

Another plan for all of these festive meals is to add more vegetables to the menu. I love Brussel sprouts and will definitely be adding roasted Brussel sprouts to the menu. These are very easy to make. Simply take sprouts, a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, toss and roast. Simple yet ooohhh so yummy!

And how could you have Thanksgiving dinner without mashed potatoes and gravy. For those who do not like mashed potatoes or are looking for a healthier alternative try mashing some sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are relatively low in calories and have no fat. They are rich in beta-carotene and having five times the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A in one sweet potato, as well as loaded with potassium. These nutrients help to protect against heart attack and stroke. The potassium helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells, and can help with maintaining normal heart function and blood pressure.

Feel free to leave a comment with some traditional dishes you have at your meals that are great healthy alternatives.

 
 

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