Celebrating the Turkey (and Creative Ideas for the Leftovers)

It’s that time of year again! Pumpkin pie, autumn colors, family dinners, and the most iconic of all, turkey!

No matter what side dishes, stuffings, or desserts your family prefers, turkey is and has always been, the star of the Thanksgiving dinner table. Whether this is because the pilgrims ate turkey at the very first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 or not, the protein and main dish have because synonymous with the holiday.

The Main Attraction (Why Turkey is the Main Dish)

When putting together your plate, you may be hesitant to top it off with some turkey. There is a misconception that turkey makes you tired, however, that drowsiness you feel after eating is usually from eating to the point of being uncomfortably full. Turkey as the main dish is one of the best options for many reasons:

It’s Adaptable: Roast, barbeque, bake, or stir fry it, you can cook a turkey in many ways. It’s also a great replacement for almost any protein in all your favorite recipes. Additionally, it can be less expensive, more readily available, and the easiest to prepare meat compared to many other proteins.

A Complete Protein: Proteins are made of amino acids. Of the 22 essential amino acids that your body requires to function properly, 8 of them must be consumed through the food you eat. You can get all 8 of those just from turkey!

Essential Minerals: Turkey is a great source of many essential nutrients including phosphorus, potassium, iron, magnesium, and zinc, which all contribute to maintaining most body functions.

Full of Vitamins: Many cuts of turkey are rich in both vitamins B12 and D. Both vitamins are important nutrients in maintaining your normal body function. Vitamin B12 helps regulate normal nerve cell activity, and vitamin D contributes to healthy bones, teeth, and the immune system.

Low in Sodium: Too much salt isn’t good for anyone. When a person’s sodium levels get too high, their risk for developing high blood pressure increases. Turkey is a protein that is naturally low in sodium, making it a great choice for everyone, especially someone who may be monitoring their sodium intake.

So, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, this all-around nutritious and delicious bird is readily available in supermarkets everywhere now, so go grab one!

Turkey Leftovers

You will no doubt have some turkey leftovers (who doesn’t. Here are 4 delicious and creative ideas to repurpose your leftover turkey without feeling like you’re eating Thanksgiving dinner twice:

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps: Cut up your turkey, throw in some of your favorite vegetables, raw or cooked, and a sauce of your choice, and enjoy a fresh and delicious taco! The lettuce wraps are also great if you’re looking for a bit of a lighter meal following that big Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey Potato Salad: This can be great as a side, or on top of a nice big salad for a yummy meal!

Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs: This is a great way to repurpose both the turkey and the stuffing! And when you pull the hot and delicious smelling dish out of the oven, chances are, leftovers will be the last thing you’ll be thinking about!

Turkey Noodle Soup: Cook up some noodles, vegetables of your choice, and throw it all in with your leftover turkey and some vegetable stock and enjoy a warm and cozy bowl of soup.

These are just some ideas for repurposing that delicious bird, but here’s your chance to get creative. Use whatever you have left over from the dinner and anything else you might have stocked up in your pantry and see what you can come up with.

Your Turn to Take Action: What do you do with your delicious turkey leftovers? Let me know in the comment below!