Balanced Meals Made Out of Thanksgiving Leftovers

Ways to Get Creative with Leftovers

Balanced Meals Made Out of Thanksgiving Leftover

Below are some ways to enjoy your favorite holiday beverages without significantly increasing your calorie intake.

Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or low fat milk
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
  • Tiny pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk until just simmering.
  2. Whisk in the cocoa powder, maple syrup, and salt.
  3. Add the dark chocolate and vanilla. Whisk and heat until the chocolate is melted and smoothly combined

*Check out protein hot chocolate mixes too. ex.) BariWise

Non-alcoholic Eggnog

Ingredients:

  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 4 cups of low-fat milk or unsweetened milk alternatives ex:) unsweetened soymilk
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg, plus some for topping
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for topping
  • 1 whole clove
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Add the egg yolks, honey, ground nutmeg, and ground cinnamon to a blender and then mix for a minute or so until smooth.
  2. Pour into a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Add clove.
  3. Cook for 10-15 minutes until it starts to thicken and slowly cook the eggs. Do not let it simmer or boil.
  4. Once it has thickened, turn off the heat and add vanilla extract.
  5. Remove the clove.
  6. Pour into an airtight container and chill in the fridge for 6-8 hours.
  7. Sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon on top when you are ready to serve.

Apple Cider

Ingredients:

  • 2 tangerines or 1 orange peeled and segmented
  • 3 apples cored and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 clove
  • 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 quart/32 fluid ounces water

Instructions:

  1. To a large pot, combine the tangerine segments, apples, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, and water.
  2. Cover and simmer for 2 hours on medium-low to low heat.
  3. Use a potato masher to mash up the fruit in the pot.
  4. Strain the homemade apple cider through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the solids.
  5. Serve the cider hot or cold.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces brewed coffee or 1 shot of espresso
  • ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or 1% milk
  • 3 Tablespoons 100% pure pumpkin
  • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons stevia or monk fruit
  • sprinkle of cinnamon

Instructions:

  • In a cup or sauce pan, mix together the milk and pumpkin.
  • Cook on medium heat on the stove top or microwave for 30-45 seconds.
  • Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, spices and sweetener.
  • Pour in a cup and use a frother to foam the milk. Or, process for 30 seconds or until foamy in a blender.
  • Pour coffee into a large mug, add the foamy milk mixture on top of the coffee or espresso.
  • Sprinkle it with cinnamon and enjoy!

Hot Toddies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 ounce whiskey
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 3 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 lemon round
  • Optional garnishes: cinnamon sticks, star anise, sliced pear

Instructions:

  1. In a saucepan, bring the water to a simmer. Pour the hot water into a mug.
  2. Add the whiskey, honey and lemon juice. Stir until the honey has disappeared into the hot water.
  3. Garnish with a lemon round (cinnamon stick, pear and star anise if desired) and serve hot.

Golden Milk Latte

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of low fat milk or unsweetened plant milk
  • 1.5 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon + some for garnish
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon stevia or monk fruit
  • A pinch of black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Heat milk on the stove over medium heat.
  2. Add all ingredients to the milk. Whisk to combine.
  3. Continue to stir until it reaches a boil.
  4. Use a frother or whisk to create foam.
  5. Pour into mugs and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon

*Could also try Bariatric Advantage’s Golden Fusion powder.

Matcha Latte

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of low fat milk or unsweetened milk alternatives
  • 1 teaspoon honey or artificial sweetener (stevia or monk fruit or allulose)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 teaspoons of unsweetened matcha powder
  • ½ cup of hot water

Instructions:

  • Warm the milk in a pot on the stove over medium heat until it simmers
  • Add sweetener, water, matcha, & vanilla to milk.
  • Whisk well or use a frother.

Peppermint mocha latte

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of low-fat milk or unsweetened milk alternative
  • ¼ cup espresso
  • ⅛ teaspoon peppermint extract
  • ½ teaspoon unsweetened cacao powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey or artificial sweetener (stevia or monk fruit or allulose)

Instructions:

  1. Heat milk on the stove or in the microwave until warm.
  2. Stir in peppermint extract, cacao powder, and sweetener.
  3. Top with espresso.