Ah, the joys of Thanksgiving dinner! That fabulous meal where you eat tons of food and need a nap afterward. But what if you could add a taste of good health to your meal?

Did you know that the average Thanksgiving meal contains 4,500 calories and more than 200 grams of fat? While there will always be traditional Thanksgiving staples in the meal, Saint Francis Healthcare’s Bariatric Surgery MBSAQIP Accredited Comprehensive Center suggests trying one (or all!) of these recipes for a yummy, yet healthier, treat.

Mashed Cauliflower

You’ve probably had plenty of mashed potatoes in your life, but have you ever tried mashed cauliflower? It’s a healthier version of this popular comfort food!

What you’ll need:

Medium-sized head of cauliflower, chopped

3 roasted garlic cloves

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives

Salt and pepper, to taste

How to make it:

Steam cauliflower for six to eight minutes or until tender. Drain the cauliflower, then place in food processor. Add garlic cloves and seasonings, then process until the desired consistency.

Cinnamon-roasted Butternut Squash

Butternut squash packs a ton of nutrition into a tiny package—including vitamin E, B-vitamins, manganese and potassium. And on top of that, it’s just plain yummy!

What you’ll need:

1 large butternut squash, peeled/seeded/cut into 1-inch cubes

3 Tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, and line a baking sheet with foil.

Toss squash with other ingredients until thoroughly coated, then transfer to baking sheet in a single layer. Place baking sheet on an upper middle rack in oven.

Roast for about 40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Remove from oven when edges are brown and cubes are tender.

Almond Milk Pumpkin Pie

Love pumpkin pie but wish it could be made without evaporated milk? It can! Read on for the recipe.

What you’ll need for crust:

1 2/3 cups almond flour

1/3 cup vanilla whey protein powder

3 egg yolks

2 Tablespoons olive oil

2 Tablespoons almond milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

How to make crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse all crust ingredients together until a dough ball forms.

Press dough into pie dish starting in the middle and working dough out to the sides, then smooth out crust using the back of a spoon.

Bake for 10 minutes.

What you’ll need for filling:

15-ounce can pumpkin puree

3/4 teaspoon stevia glycerite

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 eggs, slightly beaten

2/3 cup almond milk

How to make filling:

Combine pumpkin, stevia, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, then add eggs. Beat until just combined. Gradually stir in almond milk, then pour into pie crust.

How to make pie:

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. Once the pie is cool enough to touch, refrigerate.

Planning to try any of these recipes? Post a picture online and don't forget to mention @SaintFrancisHealthcare (Facebook) or @SaintFrancisHC (Twitter). Saint Francis offers nutrition and bariatric services so that you can be the healthiest you possible. Call (302) 421-4121 to learn more.