Is there anyone else out there who can not believe that Thanksgiving is in mere days? I still sort of can’t believe it. I’ve managed to move past my shock and this week I’ve got a few Thanksgiving recipes for you all – they are traditional sides with little twists.

I hope I don’t upset anyone by saying this, but I’ve never been a huge fan of mashed potatoes. They are all right, but I’d much rather my potatoes fried in duck fat. And even though I’m not really a fan – we thought that having a mashed potato bar at our wedding would be super fun! There were a few varieties of mashed potatoes, with toppings like pancetta, lobster and creme fraiche, which make mashed potatoes sound so much better – I heard it was good!

My husband on the other hand loves potatoes of any kind (he’s a real Midwestern boy) and I love him so I tried to figure out a way to compromise. I hear that is what marriage is all about.

So I proceeded to think about the things that I love (selfishly) and if they could possibly pair with mashed potatoes. Coconut milk and curry; wasabi and bok choy; neither of which seemed appropriate for Thanksgiving, especially since I realize there are a lot of Thanksgiving purists out there.

And then I thought about my beloved cured pork and cheese. And I thought that garlic mashed potatoes topped with crispy proscuitto and parmesan cheese would make everyone happy.

They did.

It’s the quintessential lunch, right?

It can definitely be a great, easy lunch option if you are into brown-bagging it.

And if you want it to be, it can be really healthy too. Here are my tips for the healthiest turkey sandwich!

• Bread: Because I work at a bakery, I’m a total bread snob so I use Sprouted Bread but 100% whole grain is also a good option- each slice should have at least 3 grams of protein and fiber.
• Turkey: Natural turkey is best – no antibiotics, hormones, weird fillers, etc.
• Cheese: Adding a slice of cheese can add a serving of dairy and some extra protein to your meal – just make sure it is real cheese!
• Toppings: I’ve got nothing against mayo, but a topping like avocado adds good fats and lots of vitamins. Mustard is a low calorie way to add in extra flavor as well. (Or a blend of mustard + a little mayo gives you that creamy flavor without all the calories!)
• Vegetables:  Always add vegetables! Lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, cucumbers – whatever you can think of or have around – the more the better!

How do you make your sandwich healthy?