I love family dinners. There is something about having my whole family under one roof, sitting at the same table, sharing love and laughs that is irreplaceable. But with these dinners, usually comes an array of hearty food, festive dishes and of course the deadly sweets. This is all great, but what about that waistline that you have been working on? Or your dedication of kicking your naughty food habits to the curb? Well let me tell you, Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a rebound. There are many modifications that you and your family can make to ensure that, well, as the title says you won’t gain too much wobble.
Let’s start with looking at the vegetables. These do not need to be slathered in butter and drenched in salt for them to taste good! Try steaming them, and adding alternative spices with a little olive oil to achieve a season, yet delish appeal. With time family has switched to roasted vegetable even for special occasions. Take the tasty Brussels sprout. First wash, and cut the ends off. Then place it on a baking tray. Mix together a little low-fat, low-calorie Italian dressing (5-7 calories per 1 tbl. spoon), and addition spices such as garlic, parsley, and pepper. Add a little water to this mix, and pour on top. Cover the pan in tinfoil and bake at 375 for around 20 minutes. Take the tinfoil off to add a little crispness in the last 5 minutes! See how simple it can be!
Now onto the deadly complex carbohydrates. Do you really need mash potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, buns, stuffing and then finish with a dessert? No! Pick one instead of all. Don’t add extra toppings such as butter and gravy. Make your stuffing with an alternative bread product such a spelt or rice bread to add in some actual nutritional content. And whatever you do, don’t opt for a pre-packaged stuffing mix, as you will never know what is actually in it! A little trick you might want to think about, is loading up on the protein and veggies first. By the time you get the carbohydrates there simply will not be enough room on your plate (which believe it or not is a secret of dieters).
Turkey, turkey, turkey! I love my turkey! I know when there is that huge plate of turkey in front of you, the eyes can suddenly be larger than your stomach. First thing, take only 1 serving! If you need more fine, but take a portion about the size of your fist. Choose white meat over dark, and do not use gravy. Remember gravy is turkey fat + drippings + seasonings + thickening agent (usually flour, or starch mix) all mixed together. Is this something you really want in your body? Try to buy a fresh, organic, free range turkey instead of a frozen butterball. Not only will you know that there won’t be any steriods and chemical in your turkey, but it will also result in a much tastier bird! An amazing route to cook your turkey is on the bbq instead of in the oven. Use citrus fruits instead of dressing to create a moist end result. I mean, literally stuff the turkey, front and back, with grapefruits and oranges. This will not only result in an amazing turkey, but you won’t have the dressing, or gravy to tempt you!
Like I said, literally stuff the turkey with cirtus fruits!
Pumpkin pie, apple crisp, cranberry loaf! What to do! If you have been clean for the rest of your meal, let yourself have a small piece of whatever you please. You probably deserve it after a long week of working out, and being clean with your eating. My last week’s blog looked at alternatives to cooking- this concept can still continue to your pumpkin pie! Try the alternative below instead!
Deep Dish- No Crust Pumpkin Pie
- 3 cans pumpkin
- 1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
- 2 tsp. Cinnamon
- 1 tsp. Ginger
- 1/8 tsp. Salt
- 14 egg whites
- 1 1/4C Splenda
- 16 oz. Skim milk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Pour into two 9-inch non-stick pie pans. Bake for 45-55 minutes.
Plan an activity for after dinner such as a family walk. This way you and your family knows that even if they are food drunk (you know, the feeling of being so full all you want to do it pass out), they will need to get moving post dinner. You will find that you might not want to stuff yourself silly to be able to enjoy the activity. Also folks, remember come Monday or Tuesday depending on the date of your Thanksgiving dinner, it is back to work and your pants need to fit you. Come the following morning, plan a workout and have all your food prepared to cut down on your chances of rebounding into your old habits. If you have family in town, suggest going to the gym or for run the next morning. It is always easier when you have an ally.
So there you have it. This isn’t everything I can suggest for a healthier Thanksgiving but it is a start. Make wise decisions and think of different alternatives to classic recipes. Be creative and show off your inner chef skills. One dinner shouldn’t ruin a few weeks of hard work. You can do this! And if all else fails, just keep tell yourself… too much gobble gobble equals too much wobble wobble.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
Lets not go there this Thanksgiving!
