Strategies For a Healthy Thanksgiving Day

It is that time of year again. The holiday season is upon us. I like to refer to it as "the junk food season". You can't go anywhere it seems without being tempted by foods laden with fat and calories. According to a study conducted by Texas A & M, the average American consumes an extra 619 calories per day between Thanksgiving and New Years! There is no day of the year that presents us with more temptations than Thanksgiving Day. Stuffing, pumpkin pie, potatoes, rolls, green bean casserole...the list is endless. The average turkey day meal comes in at a whopping 4,000 calories.When it comes to situations like this, a little advanced planning is necessary.

I put on my thinking cap and here is what I plan to do:

-Fix a crudite platter to munch on before the meal. By filling up on healthy raw vegetables, I won't be quite so ravenous when the meal is served. As long as I don't overdo it on the dip, this should be a helpful strategy.


-Instead of drinking multiple glasses of wine, hot spiced cider, egg nog or soda, I'll limit my beverage consumption to sparkling water or club soda with lime. Another favorite of mine is club soda with fresh mint leaves. It's like a non-alcoholic mojito. How often do we mindlessly drink extra calories without a second thought?


-Instead of preparing green beans with bacon fat or creamed soups, I'll serve fresh steamed green beans. The addition of sliced almonds would make it look a little fancier. My family loves fresh green beans so they won't (hopefully!) miss the less healthy version.



-White mashed potatoes are a family favorite, but there is no reason that I can't fix baked sweet potatoes for myself. I like to top mine with a sprinkle of chili seasonings or, for a sweeter taste, cinnamon .



-Skinless turkey breast is my favorite. Luckily, it is the healthiest and least calorie dense part of the bird. I will be sure to avoid the fatty dark meat.




-I love my Mom's stuffing so I'll have a small portion. Since it's a special family recipe and I have it only once a year I won't feel a speck of guilt. Instead, I'll pass on things that are available year round, rolls for instance. Bread is just a plate filler for me on Thanksgiving.

-When I was a child, I asked my Mom how gravy was made. She told me it was the drippings from the meat, including blood. Gag! That did it for me. I couldn't choke down gravy to save my life. Score one for my waistline!

-My sister taught me a great trick for saving calories on Thanksgiving dessert.(We all know we want dessert on Thanksgiving.) Instead of baking a pumpkin pie, she bakes just the filling for the pie in a casserole dish. It could also be done in individual ramekins for portion controll I'm not a huge fan of pie crust anyway. This is the perfect choice for me. I'll finish my dessert with a cup of coffee or hot tea instead of a glass of wine or hot cider.



I always make an effort to get some exercise the day before Thanksgiving. Since the day is so busy with cooking, there usually isn't time in the morning before the festivities begin. Another option would be to suggest that the family take a walk after dinner instead of sitting in front of the television watching football. *gasp*!!

How about you? What strategies have you come up with to continue your healthy lifestyle throughout the holiday season?