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Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it is not just about gathering with loved ones and enjoying hearty food; it’s also an opportunity to nourish the body and stay healthy as the colder weather sets in. I wanted to offer insights into seasonal eating, emphasizing warming foods, herbs, and spices that help support immunity and maintain balance. By incorporating these foods and spices into your Thanksgiving meal, you can enhance its healing properties and create a festive feast that warms the body from the inside out.
WHY WARMING FOODS MATTER IN TCM
Warming foods boost the immune system by counter-balancing the cold weather and it also supports the body’s digestive organs, particularly the stomach and spleen, which are seen as the source of our energy and vitality. By adding TCM-inspired ingredients to your Thanksgiving meal, you can create a celebration that’s both delicious and nourishing.
TCM-INSPIRED INGREDIENTS TO ADD TO YOUR THANKSGIVING FEAST
Here are some common TCM herbs, spices, and ingredients that you can easily incorporate into your Thanksgiving spread to bring warmth and wellness to the table:
1. Ginger
Benefits: Ginger is known for its warming qualities, helping to stimulate digestion, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. It’s particularly effective for easing indigestion, making it a great addition to a Thanksgiving meal.
How to Use: Add fresh ginger to a pumpkin or squash soup, incorporate it into sauces or marinades, or make a ginger tea to serve as a digestive aid after dinner.
2. Cinnamon
Benefits: Cinnamon is naturally warming and has antimicrobial properties, which help support the immune system. It also aids in balancing blood sugar levels, which is beneficial if you’re enjoying a big meal.
How to Use: Sprinkle cinnamon into baked goods like apple pie, mix it into roasted sweet potatoes, or add it to your cranberry sauce for extra warmth and flavor.
3. Garlic
Benefits: Garlic has warming, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that help boost immunity and protect against seasonal illnesses. It’s also known for supporting heart health and reducing inflammation.
How to Use: Add roasted garlic to mashed potatoes, blend it into dressings, or add it to roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or green beans for an immunity-boosting side dish.
4. Turmeric
Benefits: Turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It’s warming and energizing, making it an excellent choice for colder weather when joint stiffness or inflammation may flare up.
How to Use: Mix turmeric into soups, stews, or mashed vegetables for added color and warmth. You can also add it to your gravy or sprinkle it on roasted root vegetables.
5. Cardamom
Benefits: Cardamom supports digestion, balances circulation, and has a warming effect on the body. It’s commonly used in both sweet and savory dishes and can also help reduce bloating and digestive discomfort.
How to Use: Add a pinch of cardamom to sweet dishes like pumpkin pie, spiced apple compote, or roasted butternut squash for a flavorful twist.
6. Clove
Benefits: Clove has warming, antimicrobial, and pain-relieving properties. It’s also known for its ability to support respiratory health and relieve muscle tension.
How to Use: Add cloves to your turkey marinade, use it to spice up your cranberry sauce, or make a spiced apple cider by simmering cloves with apples and cinnamon sticks.
7. Root Vegetables (Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips, Beets)
Benefits: Root vegetables are naturally warming, grounding, and nourishing for the spleen and stomach. They provide complex carbohydrates that sustain energy and help stabilize blood sugar levels even though they are sweet.
How to Use: Roast root vegetables with warming spices like cinnamon and ginger or incorporate them into a hearty Thanksgiving side dish. Both warm and move blood.
SAMPLE TCM-INSPIRED THANKSGIVING RECIPE:
WARMING GINGER-CINNAMON SWEET POTATOES
Here’s a simple recipe that combines a few TCM principles to create a delicious, warming dish:
Ingredients:
4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
Sea salt to taste
Optional: A drizzle of honey or maple syrup for added sweetness
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl and toss with the oil, cinnamon, grated ginger, and a pinch of sea salt.
3. Spread the sweet potatoes evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until tender and caramelized.
4. Drizzle with honey or maple syrup if desired, and serve warm.
This dish pairs perfectly with turkey and provides a nutritious, warming addition to your Thanksgiving table.
ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR A WARM, BALANCED THANKSGIVING
Here are a few more tips from TCM to keep you feeling balanced and energized throughout your Thanksgiving festivities:
Serve Warm Drinks: Cold drinks can slow down digestion, so opt for warm teas like ginger or cinnamon, or hot apple cider. Warm beverages also help keep you cozy in colder weather.
Practice Mindful Eating: In TCM, mindful eating is crucial to aid digestion and energy flow. Take your time to chew each bite thoroughly, savor the flavors, and avoid eating to the point of discomfort.
Balance Sweet and Bitter Flavors: TCM advocates for balanced flavors. While Thanksgiving often features sweet dishes, try to incorporate some bitterness through ingredients like leafy greens or herbs like sage and rosemary to support digestion.
Add a Small Acupressure Session: If you feel overly full or sluggish after eating, consider trying some acupressure on points like ST36 (located on the outer shin, four fingers below the knee) and CV12 (between the belly button and breastbone) to support digestion.
Thanksgiving is an ideal time to integrate the warming principles of TCM into your meal, helping you stay balanced, nourished, and resilient against seasonal ailments. By adding warming spices like ginger and cinnamon, antioxidant-rich garlic and turmeric, and grounding root vegetables, you can transform your Thanksgiving feast into a meal that celebrates both tradition and health.