A dietitian shares 8 of her favorite recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers, from turkey burgers to a high-protein sweet potato smoothie

Turkey is a Thanksgiving staple, and an excellent foundation for tasty next-day meals that have a surprising amount of nutritional value. It's low in calories and a good source of B-vitamins, choline, and lean protein, packing 24 grams of protein into each 3-ounce serving. 

Taub-Dix said it's such a staple in her household that she buys and makes two turkeys for her holiday meal, so there's plenty of extra for delicious next-day recipes. 

For a healthier twist on the classic leftover turkey sandwich, she recommends using whole grain bread to provide more fiber, and adding cranberry sauce as a flavorful, antioxidant-rich topping.

Try putting your leftover turkey into soup, which can be an open invitation to get creative and use whatever you have on hand, according to Taub-Dix.

"It's like a blank canvas, it can take on the flavors of whatever you put in it," she said. 

To make it healthy as well as filling, consider adding beans, which Taub-Dix said are some of the most underrated nutritious foods you can buy, supplying protein as well as fiber. 

Her favorite twist on turkey soup is to mix leftover turkey into a split pea and butternut squash soup, which is a tradition at her family's table.

Consider chopping up turkey leftovers and combining it with breadcrumbs, eggs, and roasted veggies for a high-protein, high-fiber turkey burger.  

Feel free to experiment with the seasonings and veggies you add, as Taub-Dix does.

"I'm kind of a recipe rebel and rarely follow any recipe to the T," she said.

After a Thanksgiving carb-fest, leafy greens are a welcome change of pace, and cranberries can become an unlikely asset. Taub-Dix said she uses cranberry sauce as the base for a zesty salad dressing, blended with red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic, and shallot or red onion.

As a bonus, you can add turkey to the salad for protein, as well as toppings like dried cranberries or almonds you might also have left over.

If you have mashed potatoes on hand, you can make a filling one-pan meal in the form of shepherd's pie, according to Taub-Dix.

Combine ground or chopped meat with your choice of veggies, top with potatoes and seasonings, and bake for an easy dinner that balances carbs, protein and fiber, she said.

For a lazy post-Thanksgiving brunch, Taub-Dix recommends tossing leftover potatoes into a waffle iron until crisp and serving with a side of eggs. 

Or, make potato pancakes by mashing and mixing with flour and eggs.

Got leftover sweet potatoes and a blender? Taub-Dix said one of her most popular recipes is a sweet potato smoothie, which sounds unusual but is delicious and full of vitamins and other nutrients.

"People used to request it," she said. "The fact is that sweet potatoes provide potassium and fiber. It's such a healthy carbohydrate."

With the addition of Greek yogurt and chia seeds, it's also high in protein.

Pumpkin pie is a common sight at the Thanksgiving dessert table, and any leftover canned pumpkin can be a great addition to the next morning's breakfast, according to Taub-Dix. 

You can mix up a batch of pumpkin muffins with bonus leftovers like dried cranberries or almonds. 

Pumpkin can also be an easy addition to oatmeal, providing even more fiber and protein, providing delicious fall flavor with classic pie spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.