Surviving Thanksgiving without Compromise!
Just because Thanksgiving is, traditionally, a feast doesn't mean it has to be a high calorie feast. It's actually a meal that is relatively easy to make into a tasty, healthy feast.
Turkey is extremely low in fat, particularly the white meat of the breast at just 30 calories per ounce (without skin), it's a high protein, lowfat bargain. Remember that a 4 ounce serving (120 calories) is about the size and thickness of a deck of cards.
Mashed potatoes can be made with fat free chicken broth instead of milk or, heaven forbid, cream. I make mine with broth, lots of garlic, parsely, and after they're mashed, while still hot, I like to take 2-3 (serving 4) wedges of Laughing Cow Cheese and mix it in...not well, so that there are "stripes" of cheese flavor.
Cranberry sauce can be made fresh with lemon and orange zest, sweetener (to replace the sugar), and cinnamon. Get fresh berries and heat in a pan to let them release their juice. Add the juice of the orange and lemon, zest in some zest, then sweeten to taste. Of course some of us wouldn't call it Thanksgiving if we didn't hear the telltale sound of the *shlonk* from the jellied cranberry sauce sliding out of the can, so remember that 1/4 cup of cranberry sauce is 110 calories.
Cranberry sauce can be made fresh with lemon and orange zest, sweetener (to replace the sugar), and cinnamon. Get fresh berries and heat in a pan to let them release their juice. Add the juice of the orange and lemon, zest in some zest, then sweeten to taste. Of course some of us wouldn't call it Thanksgiving if we didn't hear the telltale sound of the *shlonk* from the jellied cranberry sauce sliding out of the can, so remember that 1/4 cup of cranberry sauce is 110 calories.
Add a big salad, and roast up some fresh in season vegetables..sprinkle (or provide) fresh sea salt and ground pepper and who needs butter and sauces?
For bread I love Great Harvest Bread. I'll choose something that just speaks to me, made fresh, and picked up Wednesday afternoon. Sorry, I just can't do "diet bread" on Thanksgiving.
For bread I love Great Harvest Bread. I'll choose something that just speaks to me, made fresh, and picked up Wednesday afternoon. Sorry, I just can't do "diet bread" on Thanksgiving.
Lately I've been enjoying REAL pumpkin pie. I make a low-fat, low sugar version that isn't quite as good as the real thing, but comes to 170 calories per slice and is a great substitute with some Cool Whip Free.
If you're not in control of Thanksgiving meal, you can still make it work without completely derailing your hard work. One thing I'll do is take the "mystic" out of the meal. I host my own Thanksgiving dinner the weekend before and invite friends. That way I can control what I cook, make the turkey EXACTLY how I want it, and when the real day comes, I haven't been jonesing for turkey all month. The meal then becomes more about who I am with than what I am eating.
Other things I'll do:
- Often the local YMCA hosts a workout. Bring a bag of food and work out for free. Roy and I will run down the Y (one mile), work out in their step class or other cardio class, then run home. That's a good 500-700 calories burned! Maybe this year, if they aren't doing it, I'll host my own fun run!
- Pre-journal everything I know I'll eat. I know I'm going to have turkey, potatoes, and salad. I'll journal that and the cranberries, plus anything else I bring. Going in with a plan lets me stick to my target.
- Bring a dessert...that's where the calorie creep happens! I bring my pumpkin pie, or I make a pumpkin cake. I know the calories for both of those items, so I'm prepared!
- Enjoy the cut veggies beforehand. Often I'll volunteer to bring this too so I can make the dressing myself and control the ingredients.
- Focus on fun and the family, not on the food. The holiday is about what you're thankful for not what you put in your belly! ENJOY the food for what it is, a reason to get together with people you don't see very often.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
For more help with weight loss and nutrition, see my website at www.journey-fitness.com
Posted by Tory at October 9, 2009 10:07 AM 
Categories: nutrition
Tags: diet holidays weight loss nutrition
Categories: nutrition
Tags: diet holidays weight loss nutrition
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