Most people have special traditions during the holidays. They may drive around looking at the lights, make gingerbread houses, and, most importantly, spend time with loved ones. Many people's traditions include specific foods they eat at their holiday meal.
Here are some great recipes for healthier versions of traditional dishes. Since they are delicious and nutritious, you shouldn’t feel sluggish afterward. Hopefully, you will have lots of leftovers to enjoy eating in the following days.
Main Course
Paleo Whole 30 Roasted Turkey - Real Food with Jessica
Holiday Spiced Orange Glazed Ham - PaleOMG
Sides
Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole {GF, DF} - The Paleo Running Momma
Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles (Paleo, Keto) - I Heart Umami®
Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower Recipe - Evolving Table
Paleo Dinner Rolls Made with Tapioca or Arrowroot Starch & Coconut Flour (ourpaleolife.com)
Desserts
Paleo Sugar Cookies - Gluten-Free Baking (glutenfreebaking.com)
Vegan Christmas Crack (paleo, gluten-free) - Pure and Simple Nourishment
I would love to hear your favorite healthy recipes that you’ll be making this year!
Dr. Jamie
*Photo credit: Becci Hethcoat Photography
Look at your calendar and think about your typical day. How much time do you spend on the activities associated with your values? How much of your day is spent on things that are not too important to you? If you notice most of your time isn't spent on your priorities, how can you change that?
The first step in making this change is becoming clear about your values. If we are not clear about what matters to us, the wishes of others can overwhelm us. We can use these values as a foundation when making decisions.
You can't do everything; there are only 24 hours in a day. It is not selfish to guard your resources, including time, energy, and money. Even considering the mental load you carry is important. Something may seem super simple, but if it is one more thing to remember, you may still benefit from declining.
Let's ask ourselves, "Does my life reflect my values?"
My Health Is a Major Priority
If I don’t have my health, I don’t have anything. Being healthy is what gives me a great quality of life. I support my health by...
- Eating nutritious food
- Moving my body
- Spending time with friends and family
- Going outside
- Sleeping well
- Reducing stress
Read more ...
Some of the most cherished gifts are things you can’t wrap to put under the tree. Since most of us don’t need more material goods, I love giving experiences that make lasting memories!
One of my favorite gifts from my parents was a family membership to the DuPage Children's Museum. It was so much fun, and we thought of them every time we went there throughout the year.
When you give an experience as a gift, the key is finding something they will enjoy that fits your budget. It could be a date to a local coffee shop or something more extravagant. The cost does not matter as much as the personalized touch behind it. So, think about the person. How can your gift show them that you know and care about them?
Let’s look at some ideas for experiences your loved ones may enjoy!
Children
Experiences give the child a memory that will last far longer than any toy. Think about getting them a…
- pass or membership to the Zoo (Brookfield and Cosley Zoo are both great)
- membership to a children's museum
- ticket to a new movie (with money for popcorn of course)
- ticket to take the Metra train (into the city or to Toot Toot’s restaurant in Glen Ellyn)
- kid's manicure/pedicure
- ticket to a children’s show at a local theater (Frozen is playing at the Paramount in Aurora, IL)
- ticket to a sporting event
- couple of games of bowling (don't forget the shoe rental)
- horseback riding lesson
- series of swim lessons
Read more ...

Here are some healthy ways to make traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Using recipes with real, unprocessed, nourishing ingredients will help us feel better after the meal. You will feel more awake and able to enjoy the rest of the day.
I bet you will be inspired to try more of these recipes when you see how good they taste and how great you feel!
Appetizers:
Easy Whole30 Paleo Snack Board | Kimbrough Daniels
Bacon-Wrapped Butternut Squash Recipe | Paleo Leap
The Best Paleo Meatballs - Whole30 Friendly! - Fresh Water Peaches
Sweet and Tangy Lil' Smokies | Plaid & Paleo (plaidandpaleo.com)
The Bird
Easy Roasted Turkey with Sage Butter
Butterflied Turkey Recipe
Stuffing
Sausage Apple Cranberry Stuffing
Paleo Comfort Food Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole
Paleo Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potato & Squash
Sweet Potato Casserole
Roasted Garlic & Butternut Squash Mash
Butternut Squash Risotto
Cranberries
3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce
"Mashed Potatoes"
Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes"
Brussel Sprouts
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Beautiful Brussels Sprouts with Onion & Squash
Desserts
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Crisp
Nonalcoholic Drinks
How To Make Virgin Piña Coladas - Strength and Sunshine
Watermelon + Cucumber Cooler - the Whole Smiths
Non-Alcoholic Paleo Strawberry Mojito - Paleo Grubs
You can enjoy a beautiful meal and still feel good enough to enjoy the rest of the day!
Dr. Jamie Thomure (and Joelle Kurczodyna)
*Many of these recipes were taken from an article my sister Joelle wrote. Joelle has a certification in Nutritional Therapy (NTP), is a mom of three kids, and has a homestead with two cows, more than twenty chickens, and a bunch of vegetables! Learn more about the awesome things she is up to at
From Scratch Farmstead.