This Thanksgiving, Dole and I are encouraging families and individuals to include greens in their meals! We know that Thanksgiving can be a hard holiday to eat healthy for, but with a few little swaps and the addition of fresh Dole greens, it can be done!
I was completely stumped while trying to think of a healthy Thanksgiving recipe until I saw my friends Taryn and Julia the other day. I asked them, what is a dish that gets left out during Thanksgiving? Something uncommon. That’s when it hit us as we were all talking – there’s plenty of delicious side dishes for Thanksgiving, but there also tons of leftovers, and not much to do with them – except for eat the same meal over and over again for an entire week. I’ve surprisingly never made a sandwich out of leftover Thanksgiving food, but I am alllllll over it this year!
Since most Thanksgiving leftovers are pretty rich, I added some fresh Dole Spinach and my new favorite type of “bun” to my Thanksgiving sammy! I just recently discovered sweet potato buns, and I seriously wish I knew about them sooner. When baked with olive oil, they taste amazing as a bread or bun replacement, plus they’re loaded with beta-Carotene which is excellent for vision.
Sweet Potato Buns
The biggest (widest) sweet potatoes you can find.
Olive oil
Salt & Pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice sweet potato into 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch thick slices. Coat both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the sweet potato rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-30 minutes. Flip the sweet potatoes halfway through baking.
Leftovers Sandwich Ingredient Ideas
Dole fresh spinach or sautéed spinach
Tofu Turkey (or regular turkey)
Cranberry sauce
Creamed corn
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Gravy
Green beans
Stuffing
I hope you have a happy & healthy Thanksgiving with your family and friends!
For more healthy thanksgiving recipes, check out Dole’s Butternut Squash with Eggplant-Pomegranate Sauce, Caramelized Pear, Roasted Tomato and Lentil Salad, Vegetable & Kale Au Gratin, and Roast Turkey Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette.
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This post has been sponsored by Dole. I received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
November 24, 2014 at 2:49 pm (10 years ago)I’m thankful for my family (as always), but they have really stepped up to the plate for me this year and it is simply amazing!
Rosie
November 24, 2014 at 2:55 pm (10 years ago)Love this! I’ve never thought of sweet potatoes as buns!
Rosie
November 24, 2014 at 2:56 pm (10 years ago)Oh and I’m thankful for my sweet children, 4 boys…yes its wild. 😉
Elizabeth
November 24, 2014 at 3:17 pm (10 years ago)I’m thankful for my health! I am a personal trainer (who went through my own 80+ pound weight loss…but I haven’t had the courage to blog about all of that for my business yet)…and I will recommend this tasty recipe to my clients! I’ve put up a few healthy holiday recipes of my own that all take less than 5 minutes of hands-on time to prepare 🙂
Catherine
November 24, 2014 at 3:55 pm (10 years ago)Elizabeth, you should share your story! I was so nervous to share mine, but it is so rewarding being able to help people by simply sharing the personal journey you’ve been through!
Ally
November 24, 2014 at 3:19 pm (10 years ago)My family and I always make sandwiches the next couple of days after Thanksgiving. It’s an easy way to get rid of alllll the leftovers, but they are never this great looking! I’m going to have to try this on Thursday!
Also – I’m thankful for all of the wonderful people and opportunities that I have in my life 🙂
Kaylin @ Enticing Healthy Eating
November 24, 2014 at 3:28 pm (10 years ago)I’m most thankful for friendsgivings with great friends, thanksgiving with family, and all the delicious food that comes with it.
dena @ 40 fit in the mitt
November 24, 2014 at 4:18 pm (10 years ago)Making this ASAP! Yum. Yum. Yum
ammauceri
November 24, 2014 at 4:33 pm (10 years ago)I’m thankful for my parents and their generosity. They take care of me, no matter how old I get! 🙂
Ana
November 24, 2014 at 5:26 pm (10 years ago)Thankful for my family support to get me started in life!
Alison
November 24, 2014 at 5:41 pm (10 years ago)My family!
Ivie
November 24, 2014 at 9:23 pm (10 years ago)I’m thankful for the endless love I have in my life
Bianca @ Sweet Dreaming
November 24, 2014 at 9:26 pm (10 years ago)my family, my boyfriend, my friends, and my (our) health!
Sofia
November 24, 2014 at 11:34 pm (10 years ago)I’m thankful for all the wonderful opportunities I’ve had this year.
christina
November 24, 2014 at 11:40 pm (10 years ago)my family!
Debie Grace
November 25, 2014 at 5:05 am (10 years ago)Looks very delicious!!
Lisa S
November 25, 2014 at 9:52 am (10 years ago)I’m thankful for my friends!
Carmen
November 25, 2014 at 9:57 am (10 years ago)I am thankful for my husband and our health! (of course the rest of my family too :))
Jessica
November 25, 2014 at 10:29 am (10 years ago)Sweet potato buns? Sounds devine!!!
April V
November 25, 2014 at 11:31 am (10 years ago)I’m thankful for a happy, healthy family!
Amy Perry
November 25, 2014 at 1:14 pm (10 years ago)I’m thankful for my family and those in my life who support me.
Molly D.
November 25, 2014 at 1:43 pm (10 years ago)I’m so thankful to be spending the holidays with my family. I wasn’t able to last year so it’s nice to make up for it. Happy Thanksgiving!
Kate
November 25, 2014 at 2:15 pm (10 years ago)I can’t wait to make this, yay!
I’m thankful for my friends and family as well as my health! Go vegan!!! 🙂
LaurenP
November 25, 2014 at 6:09 pm (10 years ago)I am thankful for my family and my parents initiative to start living a healthier lifestyle!
Deborah Gardner
November 25, 2014 at 10:48 pm (10 years ago)I’m expecting so I’m thankful for my (soon-to-be )family!
Raeleen
November 26, 2014 at 7:22 am (10 years ago)I’m thankful for my husband and my health! And kale!
aliciamcelhaney
November 26, 2014 at 11:40 am (10 years ago)This is such a cute idea! And I’m super pumped/thankful to be celebrating this Thanksgiving by enjoying my family, rather than freaking out about what I’m eating all day. 🙂
DarlinRae
November 26, 2014 at 12:30 pm (10 years ago)Mmm love sweet potatoes! I’m thankful for my husband–we just got married on Saturday! 😀
Michele
November 26, 2014 at 4:37 pm (10 years ago)I’m thankful that I get to spend my Thanksgiving with the people I love the most!