I believe Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks and permission for a touch of healthy indulgence!
That said, the holidays don’t have to mean carb comas, throwing your healthy habits out the window, or pulling out the stretchy jeans. With a few smart swaps, you can enjoy every bite of Thanksgiving dinner while still feeling light, energized, and in balance.
Here are five of my favorite better-for-you dishes — each one rich in flavor, nutrients, and that festive touch we all love.
What are your favorite holiday dishes? Tell us in the comments below and we’d love it if you would share a picture, too!
Wild Rice and Roasted Cauliflower Stuffing
Yields 6–8 servings, depending on portion size (around 1 cup per serving)
This stuffing has all the classic comfort you crave—without the bloating or heaviness of traditional bread recipes. Adding Collagen 4+ gives it a subtle but powerful upgrade: more protein for balance, steady energy, and the kind of nourishment that keeps you going long after the meal’s over.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup wild rice, sifted and washed
- 2 cups chicken bone broth
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, crushed
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/8 cup dried parsley
- 4 tablespoons ghee
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
- ½ cup diced shallots or leeks
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 small head of cauliflower, chopped into small florets
- ½ cup chicken bone broth
- Salt to taste (I like Jacobsen’s)
- Toasted pecans or slivered almonds to garnish
- 1–2 scoops of Collagen 4+
- Optional: Open 2–3 Daily Greens Formula capsules and whisk the powder into the broth before adding — for an invisible boost of antioxidants and detox-supportive phytonutrients.
Directions:
- In a medium saucepan with lid, cook wild rice in 2 cups of chicken broth (with Daily Greens mixed in, if using) and spices. Simmer for 45 minutes or until wild rice has burst and is soft.
- In another medium saucepan, melt ghee and sauté garlic, shallots, carrots and celery until soft. Remove from heat and add cauliflower, ½ cup chicken bone broth, 1-2 scoops Collagen 4+, and salt. Toss to coat. Place in a large oven-safe dish and bake uncovered in a 400 degree oven while wild rice is cooking, at least 30 minutes.
- Once wild rice is cooked, remove vegetable mixture from the oven, stir in wild rice, and garnish with toasted nuts, if desired.
The Healthiest Turkey Gravy
Typically yields 8–10 servings, depending on how much gravy is used per portion
Even a perfectly cooked, pasture-raised turkey doesn’t taste complete without a drizzle of gravy over it. My take on gravy is very veggie and very delicious! Simply cut up mirepoix vegetables – celery, carrot, and onion or shallots – into small chunks and place in the bottom of the pan you’re roasting the turkey in. I also like to add peeled garlic cloves and a few slices of tart green apple for more depth of flavor.
Once the turkey is done, scoop the soft, roasted vegetables out, add 1 scoop Collagen 4+ into the vegetable mix and puree in the blender. Use as much of this pureed vegetable mix as needed to thicken the turkey juices into a rich, flavorful gravy. Add seasonings to taste.
Pecan Pie with A Healthy Twist
I just love a warm slice of pie as I linger with my family after Thanksgiving dinner. This version is one I can enjoy without the guilt!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups pecan halves
- 5 Tablespoons ghee, melted and slightly cooled
- ¼ cup Monkfruit powder
- 1 Tablespoon arrowroot
- 2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 large eggs or egg substitute, at room temperature
- ¾ cups real maple syrup
- 2 scoops Collagen 4+
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the Crazy Simple Nutty Pie Crust below.
For the filling:
- Carefully spread pecans evenly inside warm pie crust (recipe follows). Set aside. Mix together the melted ghee, golden sweetener, and flour together in a bowl until combined.
- Stir in the vanilla extract, salt, eggs or egg substitute, syrup, and Collagen 4+ until combined. Pour evenly over nuts (see pie crust recipe below).
- Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. After the first 20 minutes of bake time, place a pie crust shield on top of the pie to prevent the edges from over browning.
- When done, remove pie from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. The filling will set as it cools. Slice and serve pie at room temperature.
Crazy Simple Nutty Pie Crust
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups ground nuts such as pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon stevia powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
- Grind the nuts in a food processor or blender until they form a paste. Use your fingers to press onto the bottom and up the sides of a pie plate. Chill in fridge for 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For an unfilled crust, place on cookie sheet and bake for 12 – 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Watch carefully – they can burn easily if left in the oven for too long. For a filled crust, place on cookie sheet and bake for 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and fill. Bake for the rest of the time specified in pie recipe above.
Pureed Pumpkin Seed Dressing
This velvety, savory dressing gets a tangy twist from umeboshi plum paste—a natural digestive aid that pairs beautifully with the earthy richness of pumpkin seeds. Together, they deliver a flavorful boost of minerals and antioxidants. Give it a try and see if it doesn’t become a favorite at your table, too!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup hulled pumpkin seeds
- 1 teaspoon umeboshi plum paste (or more to taste)
- 1/8 cup chopped parsley or scallions (optional)
- Water (as needed for desired consistency)
Directions:
- Roast the pumpkin seeds. Sort, wash, and dry the hulled pumpkin seeds. Roast them in a dry skillet over low heat, stirring regularly, until they are fragrant and begin to swell (about 5-10 minutes). Be careful not to burn them.
- Grind to a paste. Remove from heat and allow the seeds to cool slightly. Grind the roasted pumpkin seeds to a paste using a suribachi (Japanese grinding bowl) or a blender/food processor.
- Combine ingredients. Mix the ground pumpkin seed paste with the umeboshi plum paste. The umeboshi paste is concentrated and salty, so start with a small amount and adjust to your preference.
Party Favorite Seed Crackers
Serves: 8–10 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Bake Time: 40–50 minutes
Every great party needs a little crunch, and this recipe delivers just that in the healthiest way possible. Light, crispy, and full of good-for-you fats, once you make these, you’ll never go back to store-bought crackers again!
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup & 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds
- 2 Tablespoons flaxseed
- 3 Tablespoons arrowroot flour
- 2 Tablespoons macadamia oil (can substitute olive oil)
- ¼ cup boiling water
- Salt to taste (I like Jacobsen’s salt)
- Optional: chili flakes, granulated garlic, granulated onion, fennel seeds and your favorite spices
- 1 scoop Collagen 4+ (adds a touch of protein and helps the crackers crisp evenly)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F, ideally on the convection setting.
- In a large bowl, combine seeds, arrowroot, and Collagen 4+. Mix thoroughly.
- Add macadamia oil and mix thoroughly. Add salt as well as any optional spices. Add water and mix thoroughly, then rest for a minute.
- Cut two sheets of parchment paper the size of the inside of a sheet pan. Set the first sheet on a solid, flat countertop and spoon the seed mixture onto the center. Cover with the second sheet, then use a roiling pin to spread the mixture into a thick, even layer approximately the thickness of a pumpkin seed.
- Carefully transfer the parchment onto a sheet pan and slowly peel off the top sheet. Bake for about 35-50 minutes or until crackers are a light golden brown. If you don’t have a convection oven, be sure to rotate the pan after 20 minutes.
- Let crackers cool, then break into 1 ½ inch pieces and store in an airtight container.
This Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll slow down and savor every bite. Enjoy the flavors, the company, and the simple joy of nourishing yourself well. Because when you care for your body with love and intention, it always loves you right back — especially with a little help from your UNI KEY favorites.