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Thanksgiving on a budget? Here are some tips.

Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Above view table scene on a rustic white wood background. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie and sides.
jenifoto / iStock

Even when money is tight, it’s possible to prepare a healthy and satisfying Thanksgiving meal, according to experts.

In a Nov. 24 GBH article, dietitian Nour Hammad, a PhD student in population health sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who is specializing in public health nutrition, recommended several ways to serve up a wallet-friendly meal:

  • Make a list ahead of time and stick to it. “Sometimes it’s hard to resist impulse buying,” said Hammad. “Avoid going grocery shopping when you’re hungry or even when your kids are hungry.”
  • Choose a smaller turkey and consider buying a frozen instead of a fresh one.
  • Use canned or frozen vegetables instead of fresh to help decrease both effort and cost.
  • Prepare classics like pumpkin pie yourself instead of buying pre-made desserts. Or serve a sweet healthy alternative such as chopped raw apples with cinnamon and peanut butter.

Read the GBH article: How to make an easy Thanksgiving dinner on a budget

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