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Type 2 Diabetic Thanksgiving Recipes

✅ Evidence-based | By DMP Nutritionists | 6 Comments
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Things to Avoid at Thanksgiving
  • Turkey
  • Diabetic Friendly Thanksgiving Side-Dish Recipes+−
    • Low Carb Mashed "Potatoes"
    • Cauliflower "Potato" Salad
    • Green Bean Salad or Casserole
    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts
    • Asparagus Pesto Salad
    • Cheesy Vegetable Bake
  • Desserts
  • Alcoholic beverages

When you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes and you’re aiming to keep your blood sugar and A1c levels in check, the idea of Thanksgiving can be daunting – all that food (and all those carbs), how on earth are you going to manage?!

Well, rest assured there are plenty of low carb diabetic thanksgiving recipes. And although you may have to adjust your menu, or take your own side dishes to a dinner, you can get through Thanksgiving dinner with enjoyment, and happy blood sugar levels, too.

Thanksgiving Dinner
You can enjoy Thanksgiving and keep blood sugar and A1c levels in check at the same time.

Things to Avoid at Thanksgiving

Firstly, there are many things that will be best avoided at Thanksgiving.

Sweet potatoes – one baked sweet potato can crank up anywhere from 23 to 38 grams of carbs. Sorry, that sweet potato casserole will have to be given a miss.

Apple pie – one slice of apple pie is anywhere from a whopping 30 to 60 grams of carbs per slice – ouch!

Pumpkin pie and pecan pie – at least in the traditional sense. The average wheat flour pie crust can come in at anywhere from 10 to 20 grams of carbs per slice. And that’s before you add sugary-filled toppings. But, you can safely eat our low carb diabetic pie crust filled with all your favorite toppings – try this Raspberry Cream Pie Filling.

Mashed potatoes – a half cup is going to be from 15 to 20 grams of carbs – don’t worry, there is an alternative (see below).

Bread – skip the starchy sides and head for the turkey and salad recipes. Just one slice of bread or one roll is going to add an additional 15 to 20 grams of carbs to your meal in an instant.

Okay, so that’s the bad news. And you might be thinking… great, that basically rules out all the delicious options available to me.

No, no… hang on just a sec. Keep reading to discover a variety of delicious options for all of the above.

Turkey

Of course, golden roasted turkey is the standard meat that highlights the center of the table at any Thanksgiving feast.

Turkey and other proteins contain zero carbs and are blood sugar friendly.

Here’s a few tips on roasting the perfect turkey.

Leave ample time for thawing: If you’re using a frozen turkey, remember it is a big bird, so a 16-pound turkey (16 kg) needs about 4 days to thaw properly in the refrigerator. The thawing calculation for refrigerator thawing is at a rate of around 4 pounds (1.8 kg) per day – go do the math.

Pre-warm the turkey: stand at room temp for at least an hour, up to 3, to allow the turkey to get to room temperature. It helps the bird cook more evenly.

Dry the turkey: For a crispier skin, use paper towel to dry the turkey thoroughly on the inside and out before cooking.

Season well: Season the turkey well, at the very least with salt. Don’t forget to season inside the cavity, so the meat is seasoned from the inside out as well. You could also place a garnet of rosemary or other fresh herbs in the cavity for an overall rustic tone.

Use a roasting rack: For an even cook, it’s best to roast turkey (and chicken) on a rack.

Turkey roasting: Click here for the easiest way to cook it.

Diabetic Friendly Thanksgiving Side-Dish Recipes

We’ve included some delicious side dish recipes below.

VIP MEMBERS: Find more side dish ideas under “Veggies” or “Salads” in the members area.

Low Carb Mashed “Potatoes”

Cauliflower makes the perfect substitute to mash. You can cook it plain or make a garlic mashed “potatoes” or add Parmesan cheese for a Parmesan mashed “potatoes.”

Use cauliflower as an alternative to potato, you’ll be surprised how good it is as a substitute!

CLICK HERE for the Cauliflower Mashed “Potato” recipe

Cauliflower “Potato” Salad

Just as cauliflower makes a great substitute for mashed potatoes, it works equally well for “potato” salad.

CLICK HERE for the Cauliflower “Potato” Salad recipe

Green Bean Salad or Casserole

Green beans make a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table. Try making a green bean salad – the simplest recipe is to coat in butter and salt before serving. Or drizzle the beans with your favorite salad dressing.

You could also cook them up with some onion, chili and spices for an Onion, Chili Green Bean Salad.

Another option is a delicious green bean casserole.

Easy Diabetic Friendly Low Carb Green Bean Casserole Recipe
An incredibly tasty, deep flavored casserole that you’ll want to eat seconds.

Here’s our awesome low carb green bean casserole recipe:

CLICK HERE for the Green Bean Casserole recipe

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

A second perfect vegetable side is Brussels sprouts, roasted to bring out their sweet, deep flavor.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasting always intensifies the natural flavors of foods – including Brussels sprouts.

Roasting Brussels sprouts is so simple – just coat them in olive oil and bake for around 20 minutes. You can also add a variety of seasonings (garlic or onion powder, ground black pepper, salt, lemon) to give them a really tasty kick.

CLICK HERE for the Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe

Asparagus Pesto Salad

An amazingly simple combo that simply tantalizes the tastebuds!

Pesto Asparagus Salad
A simple blend of asparagus and pesto makes a perfect side dish.

CLICK HERE for the Pesto Asparagus Salad recipe

Cheesy Vegetable Bake

This veggie bake is a recipe that everyone loves – it is sensational (so tasty) – so definitely add it to the menu.

Diabetic Low Carb Vegetable Bake
Everyone will love this easy vegetable dish, which is oh-so-cheesy.

CLICK HERE for the Cheesy Veggie Bake recipe

Please pin, tweet or share; then keep reading for dessert recipes.

Type 2 Diabetic Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

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Desserts

You definitely don’t have to live without dessert when you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. But be warned – you will likely have to make your own dessert if you want to keep blood sugar in check.

For instance, a piece of apple pie can clock up a whopping 30 to 60 grams of carbs in one slice. And a traditional pumpkin pie can come in at 25 to 50 grams per slice – that’s not going to leave you blood sugar happy!

Instead, try our Raspberry Cream Pie. Or if you have another idea for a lower carb filling, make our low carb diabetic pie crust.

Raspberry Cream Pie | Diabetes Meal Plans
Amazing low carb Raspberry Cream Pie – just 8 net carbs per (generous) slice

CLICK HERE for the Raspberry Cream Pie recipe.

Low Carb Raspberry Cream Pie
Make this raspberry pie, blueberry, strawberry or mixed berry if you prefer.

You can also find a few more dessert recipes here.

VIP MEMBERS: Find a low carb Pumpkin Pie, Cheesecake and Vanilla Coconut Pie and ample dessert recipes under “Sweets” in the members area.

Alcoholic beverages

If you’re wondering if it’s safe to drink a glass of red or white wine, the answer is yes. Indulge and enjoy!

If you want to learn the carb counts and facts about all the different types of alcohol, check out this detailed alcohol chart over here.

Full Thanksgiving Menu

When you Join Us As A Member, you’ll have access to our full Thanksgiving menu and many, many more recipes!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal!

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💬 6 Comments - Join the conversation, leave yours below

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. laurie wilson

    11/14/2022 at 9:20 am

    can you do low carb while taking jardiance

    Reply
    • Dr Jedha - Nutritionist (PhD)

      11/15/2022 at 12:29 am

      Yes Laurie you can but they are often changed for other medications. Side effects of jardiance (SGLT2s) are rare with low carb diets and our members haven’t had any adverse effects, but some have been reported in studies, so you should be aware of the symptoms of ketoacidosis. It is not fully known if lowering carbohydrates causes ketoacidosis, as it is usually present in relation to metabolically stressful events, such as surgery, extensive exercise, heart attack, stroke, severe infections, prolonged fasting, and other stressful physical and medical conditions. If you’re a member, you can download a letter to give to your physician about medication alterations.

      Reply
  2. Debi

    11/15/2021 at 10:56 am

    Do you have recipes for type 1? My son has Type 1 and just about everything we read is about type 2.

    Reply
    • Emily - Dietitian (MS, RD)

      11/15/2021 at 4:09 pm

      Our site is dedicated to people living with Type 2 Diabetes. While a majority of the information is transferrable to Type 1’s, there are definitely some differences between the two diseases. I would see if your doctor can recommend any Type 1 specific resources.

      Reply
  3. Sheila Graham

    11/13/2017 at 2:48 pm

    I am prediabetes I need to loose weight my blood count is low but I am on a low dose of frolic acid for the methotrexate for arthritis and I have just found out that I am low in vitamin D can you give me any help that would help me thanks

    Reply
    • Jedha

      11/22/2017 at 3:49 am

      Hopefully your doctor recommended vitamin D supplements. You may also find this info and this info on weight loss helpful.

      Reply

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