The upside to downsizing your Thanksgiving meal

Rosemary Weaver, MPH, RDN, LDN, NCH Wellness Center Dietitian

It’s nearly time for one of America’s favorite holidays: Thanksgiving. COVID-19 will likely change the way most of us celebrate this year. Instead of a big spread and a houseful of guests, we should be “downsizing” the celebration to more immediate family. Is there an upside to all this? Practically speaking, yes! Besides protecting yourself and others from COVID-19, additional “upsides” for “downsizing” the holiday meal may include:

• Less groceries to purchase (easier on the budget)
• A smaller turkey or even an alternate main dish (quicker cooking time)
• Less prep time and cleanup (who doesn’t love this)
• Fewer leftovers (therefore, fewer post-holiday “temptations”)
• More time to spend on experimenting with a new recipe or two
• An opportunity to focus on starting a new tradition—like a family turkey trot, setting a really special table or giving thanks on a video chat with extended family

Many cherished recipes can be successfully scaled back simply by reducing the quantity of ingredients based on the number of desired servings. For example, a mashed potato or sweet potato dish that serves 16 in an extra-large pan can have all ingredients divided by four and made in a small casserole dish.

For the entrée, consider buying a smaller bird, such as a five-pound turkey for four guests or an eight-pounder for six guests. Other options include purchasing a turkey breast (see our great recipe below) or even roasting a chicken.

To keep turkey breast from becoming too dry, try roasting it with a vegetable stuffing that goes under the skin, cook it “low and slow” in a slow cooker or instant pot or—when roasting in the oven— cover the meat with foil and sufficient liquid in the pan; remove the foil near the end of roasting time to allow the skin to brown nicely.

In the vegetable and salad department, this could be the opportunity to experiment a little if there are a few less picky eaters at your table. Consider roasting vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, mash up a new butternut squash recipe or pair the turkey with a side of beet, carrot and apple slaw.

Less doesn’t mean sacrificing fun in the dessert category: make half a recipe for pumpkin pie bars or opt for single take-out pie slices rather than buying entire pies or making 13 x 9 pans of dessert. Or, lighten it up a bit by preparing individual baked apples or pears—optionally serve with a small scoop of frozen yogurt or cinnamon ice cream. Kids who might miss seeing their cousins/friends can get creative decorating their own orange-colored frosted cupcakes using assorted toppings of sprinkles, chocolate or butterscotch chips, mini-marshmallows, dried fruit or nuts.

In the end, no matter the size of our tables, it’s still about being thankful and being together—and a holiday meal is a beautiful expression of that.

We hope you and yours have a lovely and safe Thanksgiving.

You may enjoy this recipe for Orange Rosemary-glazed Turkey Breast, courtesy of MINDFUL by Sodexo:

Orange Rosemary—glazed Turkey Breast—(serves 8: provides a meal for 4 with leftovers)

Nutrition information: per 1/8 or recipe, approx. 3 .5 oz. serving

Calories:  244

Carbohydrate: 4 grams

Protein:  24.5 grams

Fat:  6.3 grams

Saturated Fat: 2.1 grams

Sodium: 102 grams

Added sugars: 3 grams