Thanksgiving: Where to Find Healthy Recipes

Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family, being appreciative for all of the wonderful things in your life, and (come on, let’s face it) delicious food. Holidays are the most difficult time for dieters – it is said that the average American gains 5-10 pounds between Halloween and New Year’s Day.

For the most part, even those in need of shedding a few pounds, the goal of the holiday season should be weight maintenance and not weight loss. There are still ways to be healthy during these months without being deprived of the social occasions of the season.

Start at Thanksgiving by replacing some of your traditional high-fat, high-sugar recipes with some that contain more healthful ingredients.

Starting with the center-of-attention – the turkey. Turkey is lean protein and therefore a healthy addition to the Thanksgiving buffet. Of course, we all know that the breast is the most optimal part, because white meat contains less fat, but the real villain is actually the skin. So if you enjoy a giant turkey leg, indulge, but remove the skin. By the way, do not remove the skin prior to cooking, as this only dries out the turkey. If the family is not that bit, consider buying only a turkey breast and preparing it in a crockpot. Saves you time; and the result is a tender and juicy bird without the addition of fat or salt.

Gravy can be a diet downfall because white flour and fat from pan drippings is often used. Missy Lepine, of “The Sneaky Chef” books, offers a “Sneaky Gravy” recipe that uses whole wheat and lentils, that provide fiber instead of fat, lowering the calorie contribution.

Sides can be tricky. Many contain a lot of ingredients such as cream soups that add a lot of calories in a small portion. Lisa Lillen, of “Hungry Girl” fame, has many holiday side dish recipes to choose from, including “Save the Day Stuffing” and “Rocking Lean Bean Casserole.”

What always amazes me at Thanksgiving is how much food we can eat during the meal, but still have room for dessert. Try a “Sneaky Chef” version of Pumpkin Pie, which uses tofu and vanilla yogurt to keep it rich and creamy, but plenty of pumpkin and other flavorings so that you do not have to skimp on flavor.

Eating Well, the magazine where “Good Taste Meets Good Health” offers a feast-full of great Thanksgiving recipes, including some for those leftovers to eat after shopping on Black Friday. And do you have a vegetarian among you? Eating Well also offers a menu to accommodate.

The key at Thanksgiving, even with healthy recipes, is portion control. Take a small portion of all that you love, and savor and enjoy. Try to limit “seconds,” and skip the bread in place of a delicious bite of dessert. And afterward, take the family out for a post-dinner stroll to enjoy the fall leaves. The exercise will help with digestion and keeps you from sneaking back into the kitchen for “just one more bite.”

Photo by Flickr.com

Denise Reynolds, RD is a registered dietitian, and mom of two girls, and is thankful to have both a wonderful mother and mother-in-law who cooks Thanksgiving dinner for her.

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