For many Americans, the traditional Thanksgiving-day turkey is the centerpiece of a holiday meal that gathers loved ones together in gratitude. But with food prices continuing to rise, some families might want to consider alternatives to the typical Thanksgiving feast. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers some creative ideas for spicing up your holiday meal while enjoying some cost savings in the process.

• Consider cooking a ham, pot roast, pork shoulder, ribs or other meat as opposed to turkey, which is particularly pricey in advance of the holiday.
• With the cost of fresh vegetables on the rise, canned or frozen vegetables will give you more bang for your buck. For example, dress up frozen peas and pearl onions with olive oil and herbs, such as thyme, sage and rosemary.
• Add more vegetables to your menu and plant-based protein to your meal by incorporating legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains into your Thanksgiving menu. You can even consider a hearty vegetable soup as your main dish, such as a rich and creamy butternut squash soup.
• Add a few cultural family favorites to your menu, such as Greek, Italian, Spanish, African or French dishes. Experiment with a classic Asian recipe, such as stir fry, dumplings, spring rolls or lettuce wraps.
• With the price of eggs and flour on the rise, consider making simple desserts such as S'mores with chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows, an easy dessert that can turn into a fun family activity. Create a pumpkin puree using whipped tofu, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg for a delicious pumpkin mousse—no eggs or baking required.

The above ideas can add an interesting and delicious twist to your Thanksgiving dinner and take less of a toll on your budget. Remember that the focus of the holiday is to come together with family and friends around the dinner table—what's on the menu is secondary.