Let me guess. This is how you do Thanksgiving Day. You wake with the sun, immediately begin hovering like a nervous new parent over your turkey, and you don't look up or put even a bite of food into your mouth until you sit down at the table five to ten hours later. At this point, you down a glass of wine, immediately get blotto, and—devoid of your sober mental faculties—enter into a riotous political argument with your great-aunt Deborah while shoving stuffing down your gullet at an inhuman rate.
No more! Folks, there's a better way. I'm here to save the day with an official endorsement of Thanksgiving snacking.
Snacking? On a day on which you will later consume a giant meal? Sounds...decadent. Sounds...wrong. But, on the contrary, if you actually allow yourself to have a relatively normal, healthy day of eating on the day of Thanksgiving, you're less likely to behave as if you've never seen food before during the holiday meal.
The trick, according to registered dietician Abbie Gellman, is to eat snacks that contain protein and fat throughout the day, starting with breakfast (which, she notes, you definitely shouldn't skip). "Protein and fat will keep you full so you won't have to eat as much," she says. "Start with something that contains protein and fat, like plain Greek yogurt with fruit and nuts, or some eggs, or an omelet. You want something that is more filling than a bowl of cereal or a piece of toast."
To make sure you continue this smart snacking as the day goes on, Gellman recommends prepping ahead as much as possible so you can grab something healthy in between slathering the turkey with butter and rolling out pie dough. Here are some of the foods our staff—and Gellman—like to nibble on while we cook Thanksgiving dinner:
Snack 1: Cheese
Ever heard of it? Gellman thinks cheese is a good idea since it's high in fat and protein, and it's also not something you have to prepare—since you'll already be focused on cooking the big meal. There's nothing wrong with grabbing some slices of cheddar for yourself straight from the fridge to sustain you while you cook. But if you're having people over and want a simple snack that'll look nice, you can make a super-easy garlic and herb cheese spread to go on crackers and toasts. Or, you can also set up a cheese board, of course. To keep things simple, stick to one type of cheese and load the board up with other filling foods like olives, nuts, pickles, and vegetables.
Snack 2: Crudité
Speaking of vegetables, they're an obvious choice since they're nutritious but won't make you feel stuffed. Gellman likes the idea of slicing extra carrots and vegetables to munch on if you're already chopping them for a Thanksgiving dish. Again, though, if you're entertaining, you can spice them up a bit so they look beautiful for guests—and are a little more exciting than the usual crudité. Sprinkling lime zest, juice, and chile flakes over sliced cucumbers and radishes makes for my all-time favorite vegetable tray, and it's incredibly easy. My coworker Joe's family go-to is celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese blended with crushed walnuts or pecans.
Snack 3: Hummus
Gellman recommends hummus as another high-protein and filling snack option. Buy store-bought and gussy it up for guests, or keep it near the stove to snack on while you cook. You can also make her version of edamame hummus for an even higher protein option. Or follow this guide to make hummus with any kind of bean.
Snack 4: Other Dippy Things
Vegetable dips, like this creamy cauliflower-based recipe that has added protein from Greek yogurt, are also good options. An avocado and yogurt dip with scallions is like the perfect marriage between onion dip and guacamole—and the healthy fats will keep you satisfied until the big meal. Joe recommends blending squash, tahini, and garlic for a dip that's basically a beanless hummus. Or try this spiced carrot spread.
Snack 5: Snack Mix
My colleague Elaheh likes to snack on Japanese bar snacks, like a rice snack mix that you can buy on Amazon. You can also make your own mix, like this spicy-and-sour peanut bar snack or a healthy coconut and crispy chickpea snack mix. You could also make crispy chickpeas or coconut chips on their own.
Snack 6: Spiced Nuts
Another Gellman recommendation: snack on handfuls of nuts as you cook throughout the day. Any plain nuts will do, or you can also make a fancified spiced nut mix that's more worthy of guests, like these candied smoked almonds. Just make sure to save a few for great-aunt Deborah. You know what she's like before she eats.
