How To Love Holiday Food That Loves You Back
Manage episode 521322504 series 3493259
The table can be joyful and nourishing at the same time. We open the season with a simple promise: keep the flavors you love, swap the parts that don’t love you back. From a resistant starch gravy that boosts your microbiome to a mushroom-forward, breadless stuffing that hits all the nostalgic notes, we map a path to a Thanksgiving that tastes great and leaves you energized.
We rethink side dishes through a health-first lens without losing comfort: slow-roasted sweet potatoes finished with cinnamon for better glycemic control, and an antioxidant-rich spotlight on purple sweet potatoes that bring deep color and deeper benefits. For greens, Brussels sprouts or collard greens deliver sulforaphane for brain, liver, and heart support—just don’t overcook them. Along the way we break a holiday myth: the “turkey coma” usually comes from sugary sides, not tryptophan. Make protein your anchor for satiety, stable energy, and fewer dessert cravings.
Dessert still gets its moment. A pumpkin pie with a pecan or almond crust shifts the macro balance to healthy fats and fiber, pairs perfectly with warm spices, and can be lightly sweetened with monk fruit or stevia without the aftertaste. We also talk liver-friendly choices: why alcohol collides with fructose and omega-6 seed oils, and how a few tweaks protect metabolic health during a season of abundance. If you use a continuous glucose monitor, this is the perfect time to experiment and learn—no guilt, just data that helps you feel better.
Pull up a chair with gratitude, savor the company, and cook in a way that makes tomorrow brighter. If this guide helps you plan your feast, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.
www.thehealthedgepodcast.com
Chapters
1. Gratitude And Holiday Mindset (00:00:00)
2. Enjoying Traditions Without Sacrifice (00:00:38)
3. Savory Over Sweet Strategy (00:02:01)
4. Gravy Upgrades And Resistant Starch (00:04:24)
5. Herb Power And Neurological Benefits (00:06:10)
6. Breadless Stuffing With Mushrooms (00:07:10)
7. Sweet Potato Choices And Cinnamon (00:09:20)
8. Purple Sweet Potatoes And Antioxidants (00:11:00)
9. Brassicas, Sulforaphane, And Gut Health (00:12:16)
10. Cooking Tips For Brussels Sprouts (00:14:20)
11. A Healthier Pumpkin Pie Approach (00:14:34)
12. Protein As The Holiday Anchor (00:17:06)
13. Satiety, Energy, And Post-Meal Habits (00:19:11)
14. Using CGMs To Learn And Adjust (00:21:00)
15. Alcohol, Seed Oils, And Fructose Risks (00:22:41)
16. Metabolic Health And Mindful Eating (00:25:28)
17. Closing Gratitude And Season Wishes (00:27:05)
50 episodes