5 healthy Thanksgiving desserts to try this holiday season

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Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays in the United States and has long been celebrated as a federal holiday wherein most government offices in schools were closed. Americans set aside a day in their calendars during the fourth Thursday of November to get together and have fun with friends and families.

This could also mean lots of parades, turkeys and pumpkin pies on the family table, and, of course, American football! It's basically a celebration to offer gratitude for different reasons. But, one thing we are not thankful for after the festivities are bloated stomachs, additional pounds and just a lot of some delicious but unhealthy stuff we ate. And so, for a guilt-free holiday, we recommend these five healthy Thanksgiving desserts you must try.

Deep-Dish Apple Pie

Apple pie is a healthy and delicious treat that most Americans love. But, it could get a little discouraging to eat this because of the calories and fats, which is mostly found in the crust. So, for this recipe from EatingWell.com, whole-wheat pastry flour was used and canola oil instead of butter to add fiber and lower the saturated fat by replacing some of the butter with canola oil. There are also two kinds of apple used in the filling to make it even healthier.

Orange-Walnut Cake

This is a recipe from Martha Stewart, which is considered a mood-boosting dessert loaded with nutrients such as vitamins B12, C, folate, and omega-3 fatty acids. So, do not forget to include this on your menu.

Pumpkin Pie Avocado Pudding

Pumpkin is a staple on Thanksgiving and a lot of us are craving for it, if only for the season. Here is one delicious treat from PopSugar, the pumpkin pie avocado pudding. It is very easy to make and packs a lot of the needed fibers and protein to keep you healthy and satiated for hours. It is made with high-fiber avocados and high-protein silken tofu that you will surely enjoy.

Healthy Carrot Cake

How about this lower-fat version of carrot cake recipe courtesy of Food.com. This is included in the book "Dr. Cookie," which gives popular desserts a healthier take.

Pomegranate Poached Pears

You can also check out this recipe from everydayhealth.com. This dessert is high in vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants because of the pomegranates, which has been dubbed as a superfood. In this recipe, pomegranate juice and sweet wine are used as a poaching liquid to color and flavor Bosc pears and garnished with low-fat yogurt or sour cream, pomegranate seeds, and almonds.