Celebrate Thanksgiving With 7 Time-Saving, Plant-Slant Recipes - Blue Zones (2024)

Some of the happiest people in the world say the secret to happiness is celebration. In Mexico, a wise centenarian said, “We celebrate everything. Mother’s Day. Father’s Day. Godfather’s Day. Saint’s Day. Something every week. We invent reasons together … There are people who will never be happy because they want too much of life … The trick is to work for contentment. Then happiness will follow.”

Centenarians in the blue zones establish rituals and find ways to celebrate life surrounded by people they love. Americans often value “busy-ness” over pleasure, but Thanksgiving is a perfect time to slow down, gather around the table with loved ones, and find a reason to be happy.

Our Thanksgiving table this year features a few classic dishes and couple of unique additions like the hearty quinoa-stuffed squash and an inventive pecan crust pumpkin pie. These recipes are easy to assemble and can be prepped ahead of time so you can enjoy celebrating with your family and friends.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Quinoa is easy to prepare and wonderfully nutty for harvest season. Ounce for ounce, it packs a bigger protein punch than most other whole grains. This can be both a hearty main dish or a perfect side to accompany a larger spread.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Any traditional sweet potato casserole will be smothered in butter and marshmallows, but here we add some texture, flavor and extra whole foods to make a sweet and simple side. Just as it should be.

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Thick and creamy, no Thanksgiving table is complete without this classic comfort food.

Ikarian-Style Sourdough

Dinner rolls often make their appearance in the passed bread basket, but this year you could be “breaking bread” with a crusty sourdough loaf.

Maple Chili Butternut Squash

ThisMaple Chili Butternut Squash adds the perfect amount of sugar and spice to any meal.

Mushroom Stuffing

You don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients to make a delicious stuffing. Start with a good loaf of bread, add in lots of herbs, and some vegetable stock and you’ve got stuffing fit for a holiday table.

Pecan Crust Pumpkin Pie

Be thankful for this day of abundance — both on your plate and surrounding your table — and celebrate today, but don’t forget to find joy in the little things all season long.

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