The holiday season is already upon us. Soon it will be time to gather around the table with for a special Thanksgiving feast. But for those who are careful about what foods they eat, this is no easy task. Most Thanksgiving dinners are full of saturated fats, prepackaged ingredients, and produce that is far from healthy. Because of this, many health conscious people are starting to make a few changes to their meal preparation habits. And the first one of them is to use only organic ingredients. Organic foods won't make someone sick from all of the chemicals in them. They aren't genetically modified, and they have no added hormones or antibiotics. So all of the dishes that they are used in are healthy and full of flavor. If you are considering an all organic Thanksgiving dinner yourself, here are some great tips to help you get started.
Plan Ahead
Never wait until the day before Thanksgiving to decide what you are going to make. Plan out your menu, and make a list of all of the ingredients that you are going to need. Then, purchase them in advance. Even though organic foods have to be used fairly quickly, most of them will be alright for about three days in the refrigerator. There are many people who wait until the last minute to buy things, so be prepared to make substitutions in case the store is out of something that you need. If you intend to have an organic meal delivery company do the cooking for you, then contact them at least a week in advance to be sure that they can have your meal ready in time.
Cook From Scratch
Most prepackaged foods are full of preservatives, dyes, and artificial flavors. So it is best not to use them at all if possible. This might seem like an increase in the work it takes to prepare the meal, but it won't be if you keep your menu simple. You don't have to have quite so many dishes to make everyone happy. Just choose a main dish, some type of starch, a vegetable or salad, and a dessert.
Choose Fresh Ingredients
Organic foods don't last as long as those that have preservatives in them. And there are not many options available as far as canned or frozen organic items, but don't let this stop you from getting the items that you want. Many supermarkets sell fresh organic turkeys and fruits and vegetables. If you are lucky enough to have your own herb garden, you can just pick some fresh herbs to flavor your dishes with. If you don't have one, then ask around your neighborhood. Many gardeners are more than happy to share a few items with others.
Limit Your Grains
It isn't easy to make organic stuffing with organic breadcrumbs and have organic dinner rolls and an organic pie crust because many people have an intolerance to wheat and gluten. There are creative dishes that have similar textures though. For instance, instead of standard breadcrumb dressing, make one up with apples, raisins, carrots, onions, and celery. Saute them all in a skillet with olive oil for a much healthier version that won't upset someone's delicate digestive system. Pumpkin mousse can replace a pumpkin pie. And you might want to just skip having rolls completely.
Leave Out the Sugar
Organic fruits have a natural sweetness to them that doesn't have to be covered up with a heavy dose of white sugar. If you must add something extra to your fruit-based dessert, opt for organic clover honey or agave nectar. Organic maple syrup is also a nice addition, and it adds a touch of fall flavor that everyone will love.