With Thanksgiving less than a week away, people are preparing for family, friends, decorations, parties and even the infamous holiday weight gain. Fortunately, this year Shaw’s registered dietitian Jennifer Shea Rawn is providing plenty of healthy tips and alternatives for your Thanksgiving favorites that promise to satisfy both your cravings and waistlines. Some of these include:

• Try mashing that cauliflower! Instead of mashed potatoes laden with butter and cream, try mashed cauliflower. Use low-sodium chicken broth, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper for flavor.  Top it off with some shaved parmesan cheese – a little bit goes a long way in adding richness.  And for an even more flavorful dish, roast the cauliflower instead of boiling or microwaving it.

• Try red quinoa stuffing! Instead of traditional stuffing, try going with quinoa.  Red quinoa is festive, has great texture and is delicious when combined with sautéed mushrooms, green onions and shallots and thyme (or your favorite herb mix). If you have gluten-free guests, quinoa or rice stuffing is the perfect alternative. 

For more Thanksgiving food recipes and ideas click here or visit www.shaws.com.