A Healthier, But Still Enjoyable, Thanksgiving Feast!
Thanksgiving is the beginning of the annual fight to avoid gaining weight during the holiday season. We feel guilty about the weight we put on but feel worse if we don’t partake in holiday meals, parties, and desserts. However, by emphasizing the healthier side to meals we can limit unnecessary calories or fat.
Turkey and tenderloin are main courses that limit calories and fat compared to ham and other forms of beef. For example, 3 oz. of turkey has 110 calories and .5 g. of fat. Prime rib has 310 calories and ham 4.5 g. of fat. Don’t forget to remove the skin on turkey and chicken.
Emphasizing fruits and vegetables rather than potatoes and breads makes a meal healthier. Fresh vegetables and fruits especially before the main meal help to fill you and avoid higher caloric appetizers. Roasting vegetables reduces fatty sauces or butter. Substitute a vegetable soup for a more complex carbohydrate. Make your stuffing with whole-wheat bread. Cranberries, sweet potatoes, and green beans are nutritional but watch how they are prepared.
(Did You Know? It is not the turkey that makes you sleepy after your Thanksgiving meal but the carbohydrates. They increase your insulin level which results in an increased level of tryptophan in the bloodstream and voila, naptime!)
Dessert and alcohol, deathtraps for calories! Seriously, no one is expected to avoid these and moderation is the key. Alternate a glass of wine with a glass of water. Red wine has about 120 calories per glass. All desserts are not created equal. Minimize those with lots of calories. Pecan pie is high in calories, take the crust edge off pumpkin pie, and use Cool Whip over ice cream when adding to a dessert.
Part of the enjoyment of the holidays is indulging in good food with friends and family. There is no reason to skip these pleasures. However, small changes add up and can make a big improvement in the way you would have looked in January without sacrificing.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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