Need an easy appetizer? How about nutritious foods in festive colors? Or simple tweaks to those classic favorites for a flavor twist? And of course, what to do with leftovers. My “how-to-do-it” ideas for your holidays in this blog and my most recent Let’s Talk Live D.C. appearance video below.

Add Some Yogurt to your Holiday Recipes

Yogurt is more than a nutritious snack, it’s a great addition to the standard ingredients in holiday recipes. One of my favorites is Siggi’s yogurt. It’s made from simple quality ingredients you can pronounce, and doesn’t have a lot of added sugar like some other brands. It actually has more protein than sugar with about 13 to 15 grams protein per serving and just 9 to 11 grams of sugar. Plus, Siggi’s has no artificial preservatives, no thickeners, no sweeteners, no “fake” flavors and no artificial colors. It’s hard to beat that!

At Thanksgiving, use siggi’s in place of whipped cream. Try topping your Pumpkin and Spice Pie recipe with a dollop of Siggi’s Vanilla. You can also use it in place of butter. Try this delicious twist on your typical mashed potatoes by adding Siggi’s Coconut yogurt to a Sweet Potato Mash.

Find these recipes and more on www.siggisdairy.com and pick up siggi’s at Whole Foods, Giant, Safeway, and YES! Organic Market here in Washington DC.

Sensational Seasonal Flavors

Hummus has become more popular in the U.S. thanks to the #1 selling brand Sabra hummus. Nutrition wise, hummus has a lot to offer. It provides plant protein, fiber, healthy unsaturated fats, as well as iron, zinc, magnesium, and folate.

This is my seasonal twist, a pumpkin hummus, which is a great dish to put out while people are waiting on Thanksgiving. All you do is stir in pureed pumpkin, add a little water and warm it in the microwave for a minute. Top with roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and serve it warm with crudité and good pita bread.

Check out www.sabra.com and you will see there is so much you can do with hummus outside of the typical recipes! I love using hummus as a spread and ingredient in sauces and even salad dressings.

Not your Average Pita

Speaking of that high quality pita bread, look for Toufayan brand at Wegmans, Giant, and Shoprite. It’s fresh, authentic, and healthy. Toufayan is a family owned bakery providing our families with the best tasting breads for over 90 years.

Besides the pita triangles used in the pumpkin hummus appetizer, try their new Gluten Free wraps. They’re available in spinach, garden vegetable, savory tomato, and original. You can use them anywhere! Try these vegetable pinwheels in each of the varieties with hummus, baby spinach, shredded carrot, red cabbage, and sprouts. You make it like a pizza, roll it up tight, cut and hold together with a toothpick. This is delicious, easy to eat, and healthy for you. Find out more at www.toufayan.com.

Gluten Free Gravy Problems Solved

McCormick herbs and spices are always invited to my Thanksgiving. The cinnamon in the pie, poultry seasoning in the stuffing, the foolproof Turkey gravy, McCormick has me covered. Now, McCormick has gluten free turkey gravy, which is not made from flour, so those with gluten allergies can enjoy it too! Make this in five minutes with just McCormick’s Gluten-free gravy mix and water. Dial up the flavor, addng ¼ teaspoon of thyme or sage.

For the leftovers, change it up a bit with this leftover turkey chowder. Add your leftover turkey, gravy, leftover roasted potatoes, and corn for a delicious gluten free chowder.

Green beans are a Thanksgiving staple. Try them lightly cooked with McCormick rosemary, thyme, and salt and pepper and a bit of balsamic vinegar. You can find both of these recipes and more at www.McCormick.com.

Wonderful, Easy Snacks and Party Platters

If I’m going to a party or need a platter idea, “Wonderful”  foods are smart, healthy choices. POM Wonderful Pomegranates are in season. Take the “short cut” and pick up these Pom Poms Fresh Arils to get the sweet, tart taste without the fuss. The bonus? You’ll get fiber and antioxidants too. Try them paired with some dark chocolate. Find out more at www.pomwonderful.com.

Wonderful Halos are so easy to eat and peel. They’re great for kids AND adults. They’re sweet, seedless, and rich in vitamin C. Check out their website www.wonderfulhalos.com.

Lastly, Wonderful Pistachios, “the green nut,”  are a festive color, and easy and fun for your guests to crack. Pistachios are also heart healthy, and a good source of protein and fiber. Check out www.getcrackin.com for more info.

All of these foods are versatile, delicious and perfect for snacking. Have some fun and get creative!

Find out more about these products and topics through Twitter at @siggisdairy @McCormickSpices @Toufayan @getcrackin @pomwonderful and @HalosFun !

Let us know! How are your Thanksgiving plans shaping up? Please share below or tweet to @ScritchfieldRD! We’d love to hear them!

A quick pic before we roll. Lots of great folks making the TV work look easy.

Disclosures: I was compensated by Siggi’s, McCormick, Toufayan, and Wonderful Pistachios, Halos, and Pomegranates for my work on the TV segment, but was not compensated to write this blog.