Shannon Center Weekly Nutrition Tip – Healthy Thanksgiving Tips!
Date:11/07/2016
Thanksgiving Makeover Ideas!
As we all know, the holiday season is fast approaching, which means lots of turkey and other festive favorites! You may be feeling overwhelmed by the prospects of high-fat foods in your future, but with a few ideas for making your Thanksgiving fare lighter, you might not feel so unprepared for the holidays after all.
Here are some ideas to try:
- Take out extra butter in recipes whenever possible. Try substituting chicken broth for butter in stuffing recipes or baste the turkey with broth instead of rubbing it in butter. You can also omit the butter in gravy recipes by using pan drippings after skimming off the fat; this process keeps the flavor without the fat.
- Give cooking from scratch a try – some homemade recipes may actually be lower in calories and fat, especially if you pay close attention to the ingredients you’re putting in them.
- Instead of traditional green bean casserole, give steamed green beans a chance. You can toss them with a little olive oil and/or lemon if you desire.
- Substitute reduced-fat versions of dairy products for their full-fat counterparts, such as the sweetened condensed milk in pumpkin pie.
- Instead of whipping up the typical sweet potato casserole with marshmallows galore, try roasting or mashing the sweet potatoes and adding a glaze of some sort.
And lastly, here are a few ideas for your own personal success during that day:
- Make sure to eat a balanced breakfast; it can keep you from feeling ravenous and remind you that you don’t have to stuff yourself later in the day just because the food is there.
- Skip the skin on your turkey – doing so reduces both calories and fat.
- Try adding some exercise if you can, such as taking a walk after the big meal or getting in a workout before the festivities begin.
- Most of all, don’t beat yourself up or go overboard on restrictions – enjoy the day and eat mindfully. You can do it!
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