Thanksgiving is less than a week away! And while it is traditionally a holiday full of sweet treats, fat filled sides, and lots of calories, with some advanced preparation and knowledge, you can make it a healthy holiday. Follow these 3 steps to a healthy Thanksgiving:
Volunteer to Bring a Healthy Side
If you are worried that there won’t be any healthy sides at Thanksgiving dinner, bring your own. Your host will likely be thankful that you offered to bring something and you can control the ingredients and calories contained. Some of my favorites are sweet potatoes, green beans and mushrooms. Green beans and mushrooms can be simply sauteed with olive oil and garlic and taste delicious. Here are some recipes that I will be trying this year from Cooking Light:
Make Healthy Food Swaps
- Swap skinless turkey breast for dark meat with skin and save up to 50 calories per 3 ounces
- And if you have the choice between turkey and ham – go turkey!
- Traditional pumpkin pie is the big winner over pecan pie (save up to 540 calories, 27 grams of sugar & 16 grams of fat per slice). Pumpkin pie also trumps apple pie.
- Sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes
- Skip the dinner roll and go for vegetables (celery, carrots, peppers, and broccoli) and hummus
Pick 1 Indulgence
If you love your mother’s pies, pick 1 pie, cut a small piece, and indulge. Choose healthier options for the rest of your meal and you’ll feel satisfied when you finally get that one indulgence.
What tips do you have to have a healthy Thanksgiving?
