Thanksgiving Menu + {Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole}

Posted: November 11, 2012

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to gather with friends and family and celebrate all we truly have to be thankful for in our lives. When things seems busy, crazy and out of control (sounds like MY life!!), stopping for a minute to refocus on what's most important is so huge. And you know we all look forward to all that delicious, flavorful, and comforting food: plates overflowing with casseroles, potatoes, side dishes, desserts, and a bit of that sleep-inducing turkey.  Well, this year besides encouraging everyone to just eat smaller portions (which IS a good idea!!), I set out to healthify the typical Thanksgiving menu items.  Subbing one (or more) of these healthier versions can help you not to overdo it on Turkey-Day!!

The Healthified Menu:

Each day this week, I'll share the recipe for one of the items above so that by Friday, you'll have them all!  This will give you plenty of time to prepare/plan for your own Thanksgiving meals!

So, today we're starting with one of the worst things for you in its traditional form: sweet potato casserole.  Usually filled with sugar and butter, topped with sugar-y marshmallows, and sometimes sprinkled with candied nuts, this side dish can rack up as many as 609 calories per serving!!! And that's before you pile anything else on your plate!  Here is the version I did not make:

Nutrition Fact Comparison for 1 cup Serving:

Traditional Version Stats:

Calories: 609; Fat: 8.8; Carbs: 131.5 Sugar Grams: 62.2 Protein: 5.3; Fiber: 7.5; WW Points: 16

My Version Stats:

Calories: 176; Fat: 5.6; Carbs: 24.5;  Sugar Grams: 10.5; Protein: 6.75; Fiber: 2.5; WW Points: 5.

I am pretty excited about these nutritional stats!!! And the best part is that it tastes delicious too.  It is the perfect balance of sweetness, crunch, and creamy goodness without the guilt.

Introducing Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole:

It is made creamy with plain Chobani greek yogurt, sweetened with Creme Brulee coffee creamer, and topped with a crunchy buttery topping featuring Honey Bunches of Oats, Cinnamon variety.  The idea for the topping came to me in the grocery aisle, and I was literally smiling ear to ear and dancing with excitement. :)

It was so good, y'all!! Delicious. Healthier. Uncompromised. 

And here's a pic of my official taste-tester: Babycakes, begging for more sweet potatoes :)

Question:

  • Which Thanksgiving dish/item would you be willing to experiment with / try something new?

Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole

Description

Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole - only 176 calories / 5 WW points per 1 cup serving! || No Sugar Sweet Life

Ingredients

6  
small Sweet Potatoes
1 cup
Plain Chobani greek yogurt
4 tablespoons
Creme Brulee Creamer (could sub vanilla almond milk)
2  
Eggs
1 teaspoon
Cinnamon
2 tablespoons
Butter
3 cups
Honey Bunches of Oats, Cinnamon variety
1 teaspoon
Cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Semi cook the sweet potatoes, either 5 minutes per (2) in the microwave, or 45 minutes in the oven baked at 350 degrees.
  2. Preheat oven to 350.
  3. Peel the sweet potatoes and put the mushy insides in a large mixing bowl.
  4. Add Chobani, Creme Brulee creamer, and cinnamon.  Mix with a hand mixer until most big chunks have been removed.
  5. Add in eggs and mix thoroughly.
  6. Spoon into 8 individual ramekin dishes.
  7. Prepare the topping: put the Honey Bunches of Oats Cinnamon into a different mixing bowl. Break up the larger pieces / crush it with a fork.
  8. Mix in 2 Tbsp of melted butter and the remaining 1 tsp of cinnamon.
  9. Equally divide the topping over each ramekin dish.
  10. Bake for 30 minutes.
  11. Enjoy this healthified version!!

Yields 8 Servings

Print    

You might also like...

Comments

Submitted by Deb - November 11, 2012 - 3:33pm

I'm going to be trying this tomorrow. It sounds wonderful! Thank you for making such healthy yummy dishes!

Submitted by kelly - November 11, 2012 - 9:57pm

I'm so glad you're going to try it out tomorrow! Please let me know what you think of it!
Submitted by JoAnna @ JoAnna Thinks - November 11, 2012 - 4:17pm

Sweet potato casserole is by farrrr my favorite. And what a great idea with the honey bunches of oats! Yum, thanks Kelly!!

Submitted by kelly - November 11, 2012 - 9:58pm

Let me know what you think if you make it, JoAnna :)
Submitted by Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries - November 11, 2012 - 5:38pm

Yum! Looks delicious! Sweet potato casserole is probably my favorite Thanksgiving food, so I want try this version out!

Submitted by kelly - November 11, 2012 - 9:59pm

Thx for the comment and stopping by :) This version definitely gives the traditional version a run for its money!
Submitted by Susie - November 11, 2012 - 8:20pm

I like that you mentioned using the vanilla almond milk but what can be substituted for the cereal if we are trying to stay away from processed foods?

Submitted by kelly - November 11, 2012 - 9:56pm

3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup butter. Mix together and spread evenly over each ramekin dish.
Submitted by Susan - November 13, 2012 - 2:20pm

Thank you for the substitutions with non-processed food. CoffeeMate creamer ingredients freak me out.

Submitted by Apple for restaurants - November 12, 2012 - 4:43am

Thanks for these recipes that could suit every one these days. Happy thanksgiving.

Submitted by Grivin - November 12, 2012 - 3:12pm

Yummy, I love potatoes. Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole is so amaizing. I tried it once and then i made it again and again.

Submitted by Tamar - November 14, 2012 - 12:32am

Do you think it will be okay to cut this recipe in half exactly as shown? There will just be two of us this year so I don't want to make 8 servings. Thanks for posting!

Submitted by Melissa - November 14, 2012 - 4:00pm

Having my in-laws in town for Thanksgiving and once I saw all of your HEALTHY food options, I decided to make every dish this year. I have got my grocery list started and waiting on the following stuffing and green bean recipes and I am off to the grocery store. Thank you for taking the time to make ALL of these delicious sides and dessert. Any good recipes for Turkey? I love your blog and enjoy seeing all the post. Keep up the FABULOUS work.

Submitted by meighan - November 14, 2012 - 4:47pm

Chobani should sponsor you with how well you use their products!!

Submitted by Jaren@Kiwi Fit Blog - November 16, 2012 - 2:42pm

Sweet potatoes are a win, all year round! Been thinking of doing something different for Thanksgiving this year... there is a 99.99% chance this will end up on the dinner table.

Submitted by Cara - November 18, 2012 - 6:08pm

Honey Bunches of Oats is my crack. Great idea to use it as a crispy topping!

Submitted by Shandria - November 21, 2012 - 2:59pm

Do you think it could be made into a casserole dish rather than the individual ramekins?

Add new comment