Thanksgiving: A Feast for the Eyes

Posted by admin on November 15, 2017

For Thanksgiving, there are a lot of eye-healthy foods to choose from. Fall foods offer a wide variety of nutritious and delicious options. So when you’re planning out your Thanksgiving meal, make sure some of these are on your list:

• Cranberries: Among other berries and citrus fruits, the antioxidants and nutrients in cranberries can help prevent diabetes (thus decreasing the risk for diabetic retinopathy), cataracts, and macular degeneration. So be sure to whip up some cranberry sauce with your Thanksgiving dinner. 
• Pumpkins: It’s true, the pumpkin isn’t just good for carving jack-o-lanterns and making delicious pie. It’s also packed with Vitamin A, an essential nutrient for protecting your vision. It also helps reduce the risk of macular degeneration. The same goes for other delicious Thanksgiving foods like sweet potatoes and carrots. Serve up these orange veggies at the dinner table and your baby blues will thank you!
• Leafy greens: Yes, those dark green vegetables are extremely good for your vision. Spinach, kale, and even broccoli contain carotenoids that help protect your eyes from macular degeneration and also harmful UV rays. Prepare a tasty salad to kick off your meal and reap the benefits to your vision as well.

One of the best things about fall is the food, and an added bonus is the benefit to your eyes. So enjoy that delicious Thanksgiving feast guilt-free—after all, it’s good for you!

Here is one of our favorite healthy eye fall receipes that you can whip up for Thanksgiving in palce of pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin Mousse

(serves 4)
1 cup pumpkin puree from can (240g)
1/2 cup plain 0% or 2% fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 envelope gelatin
1/4 cup whipping cream, very cold
zest of one orange
1/2 tsp mixed spice (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger)

1. Put medium bowl in freezer.
2. In a large bowl, mix pumpkin and yogurt, using a whisk.
3. Sprinkle gelatin on orange juice and let sit for about three minutes, just enough time to get maple syrup ready.
4. Bring maple syrup to a boil on medium-high heat in a small sauce pan, stirring constantly.
5. Pour boiling maple syrup over orange juice and stir until gelatin has melted.
6. Pour maple syrup mix into pumpkin preparation and mix well, using a whisk.
7. Add orange zest and spices; stir to combine.
8. In chilled bowl, whip cream to firm peaks, using a hand mixer.
9. Use your mixer to whip pumpkin mix for about one minute.
10. Fold whipped cream gently into pumpkin mix, using a spatula.
11. Ladle into serving cups and chill in the refrigerator for two to three hours, until set.