Thanksgiving is super weird this year, amiright?
Most of us are celebrating in really different ways this year: there are constantly-shifting quarantine rules to follow, and concessions about travel and gatherings for most of the world. However you choose to celebrate this year, may it be delightful, delicious, and SAFE!
Most years, Thanksgiving feasts include a socially acceptable level of indulgence–and this year most certainly calls for EXTRA. For you that might be a few extra drinks, a bit more butter than usual, and/or a extra bit of dessert. Usually this indulgence feels great in the moment… but the next day you might feel a bit heavy, bloated, or still full.
If you eat a bit too much during your holiday feast(s), and if you want to give your body a break the following day, I’ll share some light meal and drink recipes from my archives that will keep you nourished while staying within the holiday spirit. If you think that seems like a silly idea and if you want to continue to feast on Thanksgiving leftovers and indulge in your favorite ways, I hope you will do so joyfully, and honor your body with the nourishment that’s best suited to your body in these trying times.
Easy Meals to Nourish and Heal
Imagine this: it’s Friday morning, November 27. You ate a bit too much yesterday at your Thanksgiving meal: no big deal if you feel great, but if you feel lethargic and heavy, here are a few recipes that will help you feel your best the day after (and really, everyday!). These meals require very little preparation, include mostly raw veggies, and are full of plant-based fiber to help your body move things along 💩
Ginger Zucchini: A bright, zesty way to enjoy zucchini. You can substitute the zucchini with other veggies too, like broccoli, carrots, or peppers. This can be eaten alone, or with a bit of rice or roasted potatoes for a small meal.
Perfect Kale Salad: This is truly my favorite meal for resetting the digestive system. It is a complete meal, as it has both cooked and raw veggies, grains, and seeds, but it’s still so light and healing. It’s a very high-vibe salad!
Miso Roasted Potatoes: I made these roasted sweet potatoes a few weeks ago as part of a meal-prep lesson, but they are just as good on their own, served alongside some lightly cooked or steamed veggies.
Super Fresh Bok Choy Salad: Another high-vibe, high veggie meal that’s crunchy and delightful. Pair this with a bit of rice or noodles or eat as is for a light meal.
Quick Carrot Salad: Another super light, bright salad to add fresh flavor and fiber to your diet.
French-Style Potato Salad: A great meal-sized salad featuring fresh greens (arugula is best here) and cooked potatoes. It’s filling on it’s own, and you can pair with something else cooked, too, like the Ginger Zucchini or some roasted squash.
Post-Holiday Drinks to Soothe your Digestive System
These drink recipes will help your digestion move along after being a bit overfull from yesterday’s meal. All of them are focused on herbs and teas that help move things along in the body and soothe the digestive system. Any of them can be made more decadent with the addition of extra sweetener or some creamer.
Calming Chamomile: Chamomile tea is made from tiny chamomile flowers, and you can buy this herb as teabags or in bulk. Chamomile is deeply relaxing, can help aid digestion, and is delicious hot or iced. In this recipe I paired with licorice root, but if you don’t have that just add about a half teaspoon of honey; if you want extra relaxation, add in some CBD tincture.
Red Chai: Rooibos tea is caffeine free and super delicious. It has a more full body than most herbal teas, so it’s a great substitute for black tea. In this recipe I’ve combined it will digestion-soothing cinnamon and cardamom, so it’s good for post-holiday feels.
Homemade Ginger Tea: The most simple team works like a miracle for digestion. Ginger is warming, soothing, and helps your body feel nourished and calm.
Tea Lattes: A yummy way to make your daily cup of tea a bit fancier. It feels decadent like a regular, coffeeshop latte, but it’s mostly water so it’s still quite light on the digestion.
Golden Milk: Turmeric milk, or turmeric lattes are great for so many reasons. Natural turmeric is potent medicine, and it’s great for your digestion. Paired with ginger and other warming spices, it’s the perfect Fall beverage and can be soothing. Of all the drinks here, this is the most filling, so if you’re already feeling full, save this one for later.
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