OK, this may be a bit of tough love today. Sometimes we need that and sometimes it just ticks us off. I apologize if this ticks you off.
On one of the weight loss forums that I moderate here, people are starting to go off their diets in anticipation of Thanksgiving. In particular, the big Thanksgiving food fest that this holiday has become for many Americans. I take serious issue with this mindset.
It seems to me that Thanksgiving has become less about thanks and gratitude and more about seeing how much food we can pack into our already overweight bodies in one 12-hour period. It is high time we stop the madness!
If you can get over the mindset of allowing yourself to binge for a day and take a look at traditional Thanksgiving fare, you’ll see that Thanksgiving can be an extremely healthy holiday. Let’s take a look at some of the family favorites:
Turkey
Turkey is one of the healthiest meats you can eat! If you stick to white meat, it is also amazingly low in fat. If you cook it in a baking bag or on a rotisserie (my personal choice) that white meat will never be dry and always be quite tasty.
Yams & Sweet Potatoes
These are incredibly good for us. In fact they are far better for us than plain white potatoes. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals and lots of fiber. Their natural sweetness is also very satisfying for those of us who don’t make a habit of eating lots of sweets. Just lay off the marshmallows and enjoy them naturally. (Whoever it was that thought of putting marshmallows on top of starchy carbohydrates should be beaten with a whisk anyway.)
Stuffing
Stuffing doesn’t have to be bad for us at all. Use whole grain breadcrumbs instead of white. You can add tasty vegetables like celery and onion or savory fruits like apples or cranberries to your stuffing and really have a very healthy side dish.
Green Bean Casserole
I’ve had it and in my humble opinion, it is highly overrated. If you must have it, use low-fat cream of mushroom soup. I guarantee you won’t notice a difference.
Pumpkin Pie
I love pumpkin pie and I especially love that pumpkin is so darned good for me! In fact, I make pumpkin pie throughout the year. Why wait until Thanksgiving to have the good stuff? The one thing I do that makes my pumpkin pie a whole lot less calorie dense is I use powdered milk and Splenda instead of condensed milk and sugar in my pie. What I come out with is a pie with the same texture and taste but a whole lot less calories and fat. The beauty of it is that I don’t have to feel guilty about putting real whipped cream on top of this pie and I can eat as many slices as I like. (Drop me an email at lisap@families.com if you need the recipe!)
The real point of this blog is to say stop anticipating a binge and start eating smart during the holidays, especially Thanksgiving!
* Eat the healthy part of the turkey and, if it is cooked properly, you won’t need to drown it in gravy. If you must have gravy, do it in moderation. You food doesn’t need to be swimming in it.
* Enjoy side dishes in moderation. Just remember that they don’t need to be doused in fat or candy to be tasty.
* If you can’t resist eating a whole pumpkin pie, make one my way and enjoy it without the guilt.
* Enjoy the pleasure of the company of family and friends and eat slowly. This is not a race! Everything tastes better when you take the time to actually taste it.
Above all, remember what the real purpose of Thanksgiving is and don’t consider it an excuse to be a glutton.