Thanksgiving Leftovers the Ayurveda Way
Updated: Nov 28
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, celebration, and delicious feasts. But after the festivities, you're often left with a mountain of leftovers. If you want to make the most out of your Thanksgiving bounty while caring for your body and mind, consider the principles of Ayurveda. This ancient holistic healing system emphasizes balance and nourishment making it an ideal guide for transforming leftover mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie into healthful, even cleansing meals.
In this post, you'll discover creative ways to use your Thanksgiving leftovers through an Ayurvedic lens. We will provide you with practical ideas that not only recycle food but also promote wellness and satisfaction. Get ready to turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a delightful culinary experience!
Bonus: Complimentary Vata recipe eBook.
1. Embrace Seasonal Ingredients
In Ayurveda, foods are categorized by their qualities and how they influence your unique constitution, or dosha. One of the first steps in transforming your leftovers is to incorporate seasonal ingredients that align with the current time of year.
During the fall, root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes, leafy greens like kale, and spices such as cinnamon and ginger are abundant. For instance, when repurposing leftover turkey, consider adding seasonal veggies—carrots and sweet potatoes—to create a hearty soup. This not only enhances the flavor profile but also aids digestion. A well-balanced bowl of soup can help compensate for the heavy holiday meals while replenishing essential nutrients.
Add digestive spices to support your agni (digestive fire) to your root vegetables. How to Balance Vata with Ayurvedic Curried Roots Roast. Keep the spicing easy and use garam masala. Mix well with your root vegetables and you're avoiding food waste while attending to your waist!
2. Spice it Up
Spices are essential in Ayurvedic cooking for flavor and health benefits, stimulating digestion, supporting healthy elimination, and balancing the doshas.
When transforming leftover proteins turn it into curry, consider adding turmeric (known for its anti-inflammatory properties), cumin, coriander, and black pepper.
3. Create a Warm, Nourishing Porridge
A comforting way to utilize leftover cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes is to turn them into a warming Ayurveda breakfast porridge. In Ayurveda, warm, well spiced foods are easier to digest and cleansing.
Using oats or a blend of grains, cook your base in water or almond milk. Stir in your leftover cranberry sauce and mashed sweet potatoes, and add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and chia seeds for extra nutritional benefits. This porridge not only gives warmth on a chilly morning but also helps stabilize blood sugar levels, providing a perfect start to your day.
4. Healthy Vegetable Medley
Don’t let leftover veggies go to waste. Transform them into an energizing medley that is both nutritious and satisfying.
Use roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans, or a mix of roasted root vegetables. Combine them with roasted and spiced seeds like pumpkin and sunflower.
5. Use Leftover Gravy Responsibly
Gravy can be heavy, but it can be utilized in a way that aligns with Ayurvedic principles. Instead of pouring gravy over your leftovers, transform it into a sauce for a nutrient-rich stir-fry.
Sauté fresh vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and green beans in ghee, then blend in the leftover gravy using it as a sauce. This method lightens up the meal, enhances flavors, and makes it more digestible. Bringing this savory sauce together with fresh ingredients not only enriches your dish but ensures your body can absorb the goodness more easily.
6. Wholesome Soups and Broths
The healing powers of soup are significant, especially in colder months. Use vegetables to create a nourishing broth that can be a restorative elixir.
Place the vegetables in a pot with water and simmer it with herbs like thyme, black pepper, and bay leaves, adding any leftover vegetables. After a few hours, strain the broth. This can be enjoyed as is or used as a flavorful base for other soups. By incorporating fresh ingredients or any remaining veggies, you can transform your broth into a delightful, warming, nutrient-packed soup that's easy to digest and therefore cleansing. Let's face it, we stress our digestive system during the holidays, so this is a perfect way to rest the digestive tract while providing dense nutrition.
7. Sweet Treats with a Purpose
Why enjoy leftover pie in the same old way? Creative transformations can turn your sweet leftovers into healthy treats.
For example, leftover pumpkin pie can be blended to create a smoothie-soupie. Adding spices like ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon complements the flavor and supports healthy digestion. Add almond milk for creaminess. This delightful blend offers a touch of indulgence while still harnessing the nourishing properties of Ayurveda—perfect for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Eat it warm like soup!
8. Incorporate Leftovers into New Dishes
Instead of viewing leftovers as second-rate meals, think of them as ingredients for new dishes. For example, leftover mashed potatoes can be the foundation for potato pancakes.
Mix your mashed potatoes with cilantro, ginger, and a hint of turmeric. Shape this mixture into patties and pan-fry in ghee for a crispy exterior. This simple twist not only provides a satisfying crunch but also encourages creativity while using nourishing Ayurvedic ingredients.
9. Mindful Eating Practices
Practicing our two minute meditation while eating not only honors your food, but also helps your body absorb nutrients efficiently. Take the time to sit down with your newly prepared meals and focus on your senses, breath, and grounding.
Pay attention to the colors, aromas, and flavors of your dishes. Eating slowly, without distractions, allows you to savor and appreciate each bite. This practice benefits digestion and helps you enjoy the flavorful changes you've made to your Thanksgiving leftovers.
A Bounty of Healthy Possibilities
Thanksgiving leftovers can be a treasure chest of culinary opportunities when viewed through the lens of Ayurveda. By using spices, seasonal ingredients, and creating new dishes, you not only minimize waste but also help your body recover after the festive season.
From warming porridge to healing broths and mindful eating practices, these principles will allow you to transform those leftover servings of turkey and pie into delicious and nourishing meals. So this season, get creative with your Thanksgiving leftovers the Ayurvedic way, and rediscover the joy of healthful eating.
Remember, each meal is an chance to nurture your body while celebrating the gifts of the harvest. Happy cooking!
Thanksgiving Leftovers the Ayurveda Way
Discover how personalized Ayurvedic treatment can change your life
Book a free consultation with Veena from Saumya Ayurveda
“I cannot say enough about Veena and Saumya Ayurveda. Veena takes the time to truly hear and offer the best solutions. This care of my health is not optional, choosing this path with Veena has given me such a better quality of life! I look forward to the continued support and guidance.”
-Erin Griffin, Alaska
“I recommend Veena to anyone looking to improve their health through the wisdom of Ayurveda. Veena is an extraordinary listener and extremely detail oriented in her approach. The health plan she came up with for me was unique to me, clear, and easy to follow with multiple options and angles towards bettering myself. I highly recommend her to everyone.”
S.P. Jayaraj St Paul Minnesota
“Veena has been excellent! My son was struggling with an issue for years. I tried everything I could possibly find on the internet and other alternative treatments when his doctor's suggestions weren't working at all. In desperation, I turned to Veena, and she remedied it in just a week. It was so amazing and such a relief after years of struggle. Now it's been about 2 years, and my son is still doing great! I would definitely recommend Veena to everyone. I'm booking a consultation for my daughter too. Thank you Veena!!”
--Vasu Sreenivasan, Texas
“Veena is incredibly gifted in meeting people where they are on their wellness journey and helping them to set achievable goals and make meaningful change without judgment and with copious amounts of support. She is so wise and thoughtful and realistic in helping people improve their health and learn more about daily and guided practices to support their wellness journey.”
--Melanie Shirley. Minnesota
“I have worked with several different Ayurvedic practitioners. What makes Saumya unique is the value of simplicity; Veena offers food, lifestyle and herb recommendations that provide the greatest impact with only the most necessary effort and expense. I appreciate the monthly phone check-ins to adjust and refine the plan as needed.”
--Heidi Brown, New Mexico
Discover the Saumya Ayurveda Way
We all want to be heard, understood, and cared for as whole beings, not a set of isolated symptoms. True health is more than the absence of disease, which is why Western medicine so often leaves us feeling hopeless and unseen.
Deep down, you already know what you’re searching for: a new framework for living – one that brings your entire being back into balance. With Saumya Ayurveda, you’ll receive individualized guidance to create the physically, mentally, and spiritually vibrant life you crave.
Saumya Ayurveda provides concierge, top-notch, award-winning Ayurveda care. We strive to keep it simple, so you can focus on you! Our practice model is client focused not on retailing herbs.
Our effective multi-appointment consultation packages provide you with experienced Ayurveda care, enthusiastic guidance, and inspiring support.
Explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE…
If you found value in this article, please help others by sharing it and reposting it on your social media platforms. Just click the three vertical dots at the top of this page.
Saumya Ayurveda is dedicated to offering you insightful Ayurveda content for free to assist you in embracing an Ayurveda lifestyle. Thank you for your support.
MEET VEENA: YOUR AYURVEDIC GUIDE
Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.
She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.
Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.
Learn more about Veena's work and book your FREE discovery call today.