The season of holiday entertaining is here! It’s the perfect time to enjoy the companionship of family & friends, along with delicious food! We believe in eating well together to be well together, especially this time of year. Homemade meals & snacks prepared with fresh ingredients benefit everyone in the family’s overall health. We understand that sometimes taking on the duty of hosting the holiday meal may seem overwhelming, but with always-available greenhouse grown fruits & vegetables, you can quickly create healthy, simple dishes that will please everyone around the table.

Spending time with family and friends is even more enjoyable when engaging conversations are paired with delicious food. Thanksgiving is quickly approaching; whether you are hosting dinner or making snacks to enjoy alongside the game, we’ve put together a few fresh ideas for you! Always consistent in availability and flavor, greenhouse grown fruits & vegetables allow you to create the dishes everyone loves, no matter the season! So, if you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year or looking for something new to bring to a family potluck, we have some great tips on how to use fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and melons that will make entertaining a breeze.

KEEP IT SIMPLE –

Be ready for Thanksgiving by creating a plan and keeping it simple – that is key to ensuring that you still get to enjoy time with your family & friends when hosting. In addition to the traditional main course, create a medley of appetizers and side dishes that are full of fresh vegetables & fruits. Having everyone over to watch the game? Choose recipes that you can easily prepare in advance, or quickly have ready when needed. Think of who is on your guest list and ensure that the dishes you create keep in mind the many dietary requirements of your family & friends. The ingredients you use are very important to the meals you create, especially during the colder months! Vegetables such as peppers & tomatoes are both high in Vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system to help fight or prevent colds and flu.

LIVE DELICIOUSLY® WITH GREAT SIDE DISHES –

One of the best parts of large gatherings is sampling a wide range of everyone’s favorite dishes. Having a variety of simple sides using fresh greenhouse grown fruits & veggies will help please everyone around the table. Add Sangria® Medley Tomatoes to a fresh green salad for a pop of color and extra fiber. Or chop a Sweet Bell Pepper, a Long English Cucumber, Cloud 9® Bite-sized Fruity Tomatoes, and some onions for a simple, nutritious salad. If you are serving dinner buffet-style, you can lay these dishes out alongside the main so that everyone can serve themselves.

VEGGIE STUFFING

A quick rinse & chop of fresh veggies will infuse your dish with rich flavors, colors, and most importantly nutrients! You won’t miss the bread with this gluten-free, low-carb, & plant-based stuffing made with savory Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers!

This visually appealing side dish will surely please your crew! To create, just add all the chopped ingredients to a sheet pan, season, & set it to bake. While this is cooking, you will have plenty of time to socialize with your guests and start to create those special memories that come from meals together. It pairs perfectly with turkey, ham, or your protein of choice.

If you want to WOW your crew with something new, you should definitely explore our
SolaraTM Mini Melon recipes! They can be served at mealtime serving straight out of the melon bowl, or as a nutritious, unique dessert option.

Thanksgiving-inspired Solara™ Brussels Sprout Salad is a sweet and juicy vegan side dish made with brussels sprouts, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, and Solara™ Mini Melon tossed in a bright apple cider dressing.

GREEN BEAN MEDLEY SALAD

A honey Dijon mustard dressing is tossed with green beans, Sangria® Medley Tomatoes, arugula, raisins, and pumpkin seeds to create a flavorful, fresh side salad.

ORIANA® HARVEST SKILLET

A vibrant side dish for family gatherings made with Oriana® Orange Grape Tomatoes, Sweet Bell Peppers, bacon, jicama, pecans, cranberries, and a sweet balsamic glaze.

KICK OFF WITH HEALTHY SNACKS –

The Thanksgiving football game just isn’t complete without snacks! Healthy grazing boards are great for watching the big game; plus they ensure everyone hits their veggie consumption goals! Whether they are presented on a plate, a wooden board, or in a simple bowl, simply take Juno® Bites Red Grape Tomatoes, Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers, & Uno Bites™ Nano Cucumbers, and add some healthy dips if desired. That’s it!

Entertaining for large crowds doesn’t always have to be extravagant dinners either. For a snack with a little more substance, try our Fresh Veggie Pizza to kick off game day! Loaded with chopped broccoli, green onions, Pure Flavor® Sweet Bell Peppers, and a creamy ranch base, it’s simple and quick to prepare. Loaded with vitamins and minerals, this pizza is also a fun way to get the kiddos to eat more veggies! Take the fuss out of your next gathering by setting out simple, delicious snacks that everyone will dig into.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF FAMILY MEALS –

Sharing holiday meals with those you love is a great way to create cherished memories to look back on in the years to come. Sharing a meal or snack together and engaging in social interaction can be both fun & beneficial to your health. Numerous studies have found that eating with others, particularly family & friends, is associated with healthier dietary outcomes for both children and adults. Plus, children who grow up sharing meals are more likely to exhibit pro-social behavior as adults such as sharing, fairness, and respect. Family meals are a building block to help fuel healthy lives – click here to learn more about the importance of cooking and eating together at home. Be inspired to try something new for your next family meal with these easy and nutritious recipes!

You can count on always-available greenhouse grown fruits & vegetables to be a part of your gatherings, no matter the season or the holiday! Their consistency in flavor also means that as you pass recipes down across the generations, they will come out exactly as you remember them every time. Including a variety of snacking tomatoes, cucumbers, and our tri-color line of peppers helps ensure everyone eats the rainbow and receives the essential nutrients your family needs! If you are ready to take it up a notch, channel the inner chef in you with our Craft House Collection® of products! They are loaded with flavor, and these premium ingredients are sure to take those traditional recipes to the next level.

So, this Thanksgiving remember to keep it simple, use fresh ingredients, and serve a variety of options to ensure that everyone around the table has something to choose from.  By having fresh produce on your grocery list, you can easily prepare and offer variety. And as much as the meal brings everyone together, what is most important is spending time with those who are around the table. We believe that magic happens at mealtime as you eat well together to be well together!

For more healthy inspiration, explore our full Thanksgiving Guide, complete with recipes and family-friendly activities.