Thanksgiving Prep - Pumpkin Dessert w/Pecan Topping

Who feels like their healthy lifestyle falls short when these fun but food centered holidays roll around? I’m thinking of Thanksgiving specifically, as the table is loaded with food and desserts…..not to mention all of the pre-meal items sitting around to nibble on to get your tummy prepared for the main course! Well, I for one don’t like to be tempted nor do I want to feel sluggish the next day! I have too much Black Friday shopping to do to let tummy issues or headaches from bad choices keep me down the day after Thanksgiving.

Be prepared! Don’t show up to a family members house unarmed. If you tell yourself that you’ll just make the best choices possible (kind of like ‘the lesser of 2 evils’), you might find yourself really giving into things you haven’t eaten in quite a while and since your body may not be used to the “crap”, you might find yourself feeling ill and not enjoying the rest of the day. Or perhaps you are so close to a goal but the choices you make on Thanksgiving might set you back more than you’d like. So spend the morning or the day before, preparing some of your favorite healthy sides! I always take a few along with me so I can make sure I have something to eat and of course share with the rest of the family. It’s fun to see the reactions of family members when they realize the sides are made with real, whole, natural foods without a load of crap mixed in with it.

I don’t know about you but I have a big family on my hubby’s side and after dinner, we have even more family show up for our dessert time. Everyone brings their dessert to share so the table is filled with sweets! You should see some of the plates as everyone grabs a little of “this and that” to taste. I am a “wholey” person as my daughters calls it — and I don’t give in to having even a bite of those desserts and that’s mainly because I come prepared with a couple of paleo desserts to choose from. Over the years, I have taken along these little Pumpkin Desserts w/Pecan Topping, Apple Crisps, Chocolate Bark and more …..and it makes our time at the dessert table a pleasant one as I don’t walk away with regrets or an upset stomach.

Here are a few recipes that I have linked for you to check out and serve at your table or take along! Again, it is really about being prepared and setting yourself up NOT to fail. If you’re one of those people who chalks up Thanksgiving, as well as the rest of the holidays as “cheat days”, that’s fine and your decision but more often than not, I hear people everywhere saying, “UGH….why did I eat that? Why didn’t I make better choices? or I feel sick!” and perhaps you can avoid those statements and feelings if you prep ahead. I’m pretty certain you will feel good about your decisions and proud that you got through the day without giving into the foods you have been avoiding. No matter what you decide to do, enjoy your day and make the most of it! Happy Thanksgiving to you ALL! 🙂

DESSERTS!

Pumpkin Dessert w/Pecan Topping

Pear Crumble

Brownie Brittle

Chocolate Chip Cakie Squares