Let’s Talk Turkey! Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas from Fody

Thanksgiving is traditionally a time when we celebrate, share gratitude, and most importantly, feast! At Fody, we believe in making the best of family time and thoroughly enjoying the holidays. If you’re starting to plan a gut-healthy Thanksgiving dinner and wondering what to cook, we’re serving up our favorite recipe roundup of holiday meals for sensitive (and not-so-sensitive) stomachs.

We’re Grateful for Plant-Based Thanksgivings!

Whether you eat a plant-based diet or you’re inviting someone who does, there are endless ways to incorporate plant-based dishes into your healthy Thanksgiving dinner. Let’s start with the basics: you can’t have too much salad! This comforting superfood kale salad with squash and this more assertive blue-cheese and walnut salad both feature cranberries as a colorful nod to the traditional (and controversial) sauce. If you’re looking for a more traditional crowd-pleaser, this Caesar salad with sourdough baguette croutons will be making the rounds more than once. For more creative salad ideas, check out our recipes and remember–a good salad is so much more than lettuce.

As far as side dishes go, we have two words: potatoes and cheese. While cream and cheese mean this au gratin recipe isn’t totally vegan, you can switch the chicken stock with a vegetable stock for a mouthwatering, vegetarian-friendly side you’ll make again long before next Thanksgiving. And whether you’re providing a vegetarian option or you want to skip the turkey and still enjoy the best part, this turkey-free vegetarian stuffing is a must-have on your festive table. Sesame-ginger green beans, stuffed squash, and of course, more cheesy potatoes can round out a versatile, healthy Thanksgiving feast. 

The Piece de Resistance: Is Turkey Low-Fodmap?

Let’s clear the air: turkey doesn’t put you to sleep. While the holiday bird’s tryptophan content was long believed to make people sleepy, turkey is actually just one of many causes on the Thanksgiving table, along with alcohol, high carb and sugar content, and large portions. That being said, turkey does have pros and cons as a part of a healthy Thanksgiving dinner. While turkey meat itself is low-FODMAP and will not cause stomach irritation for people with sensitive stomachs and IBS, the way it is prepared can be a different story–certain oils, onion and garlic, and even the bread in the stuffing can all have negative effects on sensitive stomachs. 

If you’re preparing your own Thanksgiving dinner and wondering what to serve as the star of the show, you can make sure your bird is bloat-free by steering clear of potentially irritating onion and garlic in favor of a flavored oil. Check out this crispy Citrus & Herb turkey or these stuffed turkey rolls for some seriously mouth-watering turkey inspo. If you don’t want to cook a 14lb-bird, consider this simple one-pan chicken that packs just as much flavor and juiciness, without the long cooking time. And if you’re really in the mood to chart your own path this holiday, this sweet and sour brisket is delicious enough to create a whole new tradition.

A Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner Is Still Sweet!

Yes, a bloat-free, healthy Thanksgiving can include fantastic desserts. Enough said. Let’s dive in:

Gluten-free, low-FODMAP pie crust: Let’s be real–getting to pie is the real priority at Thanksgiving. This homemade, gut-friendly pie crust is as delicious as it is quick and easy, and it’s the perfect shell for your simple pumpkin pie. Pro-tip: Xanthan gum is key to the flakiness that will make this crust famous in your family. 

Fody’s Pecan Pie: You’ll need to let your guests rest and digest a bit before serving this pecan pie. It’s rich enough to be satisfying in small portions, and absolutely decadent! 

Pumpkin Spice Cake: Who says pumpkin spice season is over? Keep the fall theme going in November with a moist, low-FODMAP pumpkin spice cake–the ideal pairing for after-dinner coffee.

Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies: Sometimes simple is best, and you simply can’t go wrong with these gut-friendly chocolate chip cookies to close out the evening. Your guests will look forward to them until next Thanksgiving!

Here at Fody, we’re grateful for all the ways you can make a gut-friendly dinner delicious! For more ideas and tips to make every holiday special and bloat-free, visit our recipes. From all of us at Fody, have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!