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A Diabetic Friendly Thanksgiving Menu

Just because you or one of your guests are diabetic, it doesn't mean that you have to suffer through bland choices on Thanksgiving. There are many diabetic friendly recipes out there to accommodate diabetes sufferers, and they're often so tasty that they're great for everyone! Here are some of our favorite diabetic friendly Thanksgiving recipes for you to try:

Roast Turkey

Turkey is a naturally healthy food, and when cooked correctly, can be great for everyone including diabetics. You will need:

1 turkey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

Remove all innards such as giblets from your turkey. Rinse the turkey inside and out, then pat dry with a paper towel. Next, coat the exterior of your turkey with the unsalted butter and garnish lightly with the poultry seasoning. Roast the turkey at 375 degrees for around 30 minutes per pound. Be sure to use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the turkey, which should read 180 degrees when done.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

4 large sweet potatoes, peeled
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons of low sodium chicken broth

Boil the peeled sweet potatoes for around 45 minutes until they're soft. Drain all water off the potatoes, then transfer them to a mixing bowl. Gently add all remaining ingredients and either mash with an old-fashioned potato masher, or use an electric beater.

Flavorful Green Beans

1 pound fresh green beans
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
Handful of sliced almonds
Salt and pepper to taste

Snap the ends off the green beans and boil for 30 minutes. Drain excess water, and gently toss in lemon juice, olive oil, and almonds. Garnish lightly with salt and pepper.

Easy Apple Crisp

1 cup oats
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup chopped pecans
6 tablespoons chopped unsalted butter
4 apples, chopped
pinch of salt
unsweetened whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 6 ramekins with a small amount of unsalted butter.

Combine the oats, flour, sugar, pecans and salt in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the butter in small amounts, then gently stir in the apples. Bake the ramekins for around 30 minutes until they're bubbly and crisp around the edges. To add a golden brown touch, place the ramekins under the broiler setting for around a minute. Top with whipped cream and serve.