It’s that time of year again. You’ve just eaten a mountain of your Thanksgiving favorites and you’ve politely sampled your crazy aunt’s marshmallow cranberry jello. But here’s the real question: With only a few days left to safely consume an entire refrigerator full of leftovers, what is one to do? Check out our 5 favorite ways to transform your leftovers:
01 BBQ Turkey Dinner
Find some low sugar/ low sodium BBQ sauce to pour into a crock pot, mix in your leftover turkey and put the cook setting on low for 45-minutes to 1-hour. This simply warms the turkey and allows the sauce to seep throughout. Shred the newly marbled turkey with two forks and enjoy a succulent BBQ dinner. For a healthy plate, each serving should be about the size of your fist and paired with plenty of vegetables. This is a great time to heat up leftover green beans!
02 Thanksgiving Salad
All you need is leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, mixed greens, cornbread dressing, olive oil, and vinegar dressing. Cut cold cornbread dressing into one-inch cubes and broil them until golden brown (3-4 minutes). Next, remove them from the oven and flip the cubes over. Keep them on broil for 2-3 minutes more. Now, remove from the oven and place atop a bed of mixed greens. Dress the salad with turkey and cranberry sauce, and you might not even need any extra oil! That said, if it’s feeling a bit dry, you can add a little homemade dressing. We recommend a light olive oil and vinegar, olive oil and lemon juice, or a dollop of Greek yogurt.
03 Make a Sandwich
Toast two pieces of whole grain bread in the toaster or oven and build a delicious Thanksgiving Sammie! Layer cold (or heated) leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, a few goat cheese crumbles, and some raw spinach or fresh romaine lettuce. Drizzle a bit of olive oil and add a sprinkle of garlic powder, salt and pepper and voila!
04 Mix it Up with a Pumpkin Pie Parfait
Put that leftover pumpkin pie to go (and healthier) use!
What you’ll need:
- 2-3 heaping tablespoons of pumpkin pie filling (skip the crust)
- 2 heaping tablespoons of Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
- a handful of blackberries
What you’ll do:
Simply combine and layer all ingredients in a glass jar or bowl. If you’re wanting more of a flavor punch, toast the oats and almonds together with a tsp of cinnamon in an oven or toaster oven at 350 degrees for 2 minutes.
05 Give the Gift of Good Food
Homeless shelters are always in need of food and supplies, especially around the holidays. If you find yourself flush with leftovers and slightly nauseous from the sheer amount of turkey you’ve consumed in the past 24 hours, consider a donation to a local homeless shelter or animal rescue shelter.
