Low carbing it? If so, you might already be dreading Thanksgiving, what with all the pies, cakes, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. With a little ingenuity, however, you can enjoy a delicious feast and still not blow your diet. By following the menu and recipes below, you won’t feel like you’ve missed out on the big day, either!

Turkey

Smoked ham

Low-carb sausage stuffing

Mustard greens seasoned with smoked ham

Low-carb cranberry gelatin

Low-carb squash casserole

Low-carb creamed cauliflower

Maple-glazed sweet potatoes

Low-carb raspberry salad

Asparagus

Low-carb pumpkin pie

Low-carb cheesecake

Sausage stuffing: Toast 4 slices low-carb, double fiber bread, cut into cubes, and place in a large bowl. Melt ½ stick butter in fry pan and add 1 cup diced celery and 1 cup diced onion. Cook until soft and add to bowl. Cook 1 pound ground sausage until done. Drain and add to bowl. Add 1 beaten egg to bowl. Season with poultry seasoning, pepper, and garlic salt. Add enough chicken broth to moisten mixture. Mix well and place in pyrex dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Cranberry gelatin: Grind 2 cups fresh cranberries and one whole seedless orange, including peel, in the food processor. Add 2 cups Splenda to mixture. Make sugar-free cherry jello according to package directions. Add the cranberry mixture to the jello and refrigerate until set. Add chopped pecans if desired.

Squash casserole: Cook 2 lbs. yellow squash until tender. Drain and mash. Melt 4 Tbs. butter in fry pan and add 1 cup chopped onions. Cook on medium heat until onions are soft. Add pan ingredients to squash. When mixture has cooled, add 2 beaten eggs, 1 cup shredded cheddar, garlic salt, and pepper. Cook in a buttered 1 ½-qt casserole dish at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Creamed cauliflower: This is a low-carb substitute for mashed potatoes. Cook frozen or fresh cauliflower until soft. Drain all water. Mash cauliflower and add cream, butter, salt, and pepper.

Low-carb maple sweet potatoes: Did you know that sweet potatoes are are pretty low in carbs and high in fiber that your body can’t digest? They’re very healthy! To make this delicious dish, bake whole sweet potatoes until just soft. Remove skins and cut into chunks. Place in a pyrex casserole and top with a little salt and melted butter. Drizzle calorie-free maple syrup over potatoes. Bake at 350 just until hot.

Fruit salad: The original recipe calls for grapes, but strawberries and blueberries are lower in carbs, and raspberries are even lower. Blend together 8 oz. softened cream cheese, 8 oz. sour cream, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1 cup granulated Splenda. When mixture is smooth, add 3 pounds fresh raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries. Sprinkle Splenda brown sugar and chopped pecans on top. This is an awesome dish!

Low-carb pumpkin pie: Make the crust from 1 cup ground pecans, 2 Tbs butter, and 2 Tbs granulated Splenda. Mix well and pat into a standard pie pan or dish. For filling, mix together one 15oz can of pumpkin, 2 large eggs, 1 cup cream, 1 ¼ cups granulated Splenda, ¼ tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp ground cloves, ¼ tsp salt, and 2 tsp cinnamon. Bake in pre-heated oven at 425 degrees for five minutes. Reduce heat to 375 and cook for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees and continue to bake for about 35 more minutes. This pie is delicious, and it fills the entire house with wonderful aromas!

Read more about low-carb foods and diets by clicking the article links below.