EMAIL THREAD

Thanksgiving

Any low-fat recipes out there that people can recommend? Any advice on how to avoid the pitfalls?

Tue. Nov 13, 9:06pm

Are you in control of the cooking or are you going somewhere? If you're cooking, one tip is to keep side dishes to a minimum. The more different kinds of food - the more we tend to eat. Exercise on Thanksgiving day. Drink a lot of water. Use a small plate and only go in for one serving! And Cooking Light is always my go-to resource for recipes.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 9:19 PM

i am cooking. so i thiink i may pull a fast one on the family and go low-cal. it will still be good. but right now, here are the requests:

turkey
broccoli and cheese casserole
sweet potato casserole
stuffing
some dessert

all of your advice was great. the small plate idea is a wonderful idea.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 9:23 PM

I like it when, at Thanksgiving, there is turkey (obviously) and also some sort of steamed vegetables seasoned with spices/garlic rather than butter/cheese. Just as an option. Not everyone has to eat that healthily, but it's great if it's an option.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 9:46 AM

The Mayo Clinic web site has instructions for making low fat gravy and vegetables with your turkey. It actually looks very good. Limiting the side dishes seems like a good idea too. Even if you only take a little bit of everything, it can add up to a lot if there are a lot of dishes.

Link

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 10:21 AM

I like the smaller plate idea. My problem is portion control. I am the designated cook and tend to taste everything and by the time dinner is served I've had enough for 2 plates then I eat again. I am going to start my holiday cooking off with eating a small breakfast ( most times I skip because of all the cooking) I'm hoping that will help and drinking plenty of water.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 11:41 AM

Cookling light's newest issuehas a whole thanksgivin gdinner including sweet potato cassarole...

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 12:31 PM

T-day low cal

For dessert, one of the pies will be chocolate pudding pie. I'll use the regular grahm cracker crust, but will also use sugar free jello pudding made with low fat milk, and the low fat, low calorie cool whip on top. I sprinkle some chocolate curls on the top. This tastes exactly like the full calorie chocolate pie to all of us.
For turkey - it's already lo cal. Try to eat more turkey and less stuffing and gravey. For pre-dinner snack time - fresh cut up veggies. Side dish - we always have steamed broccoli which I love so I have lots of that. Sprayed with I cant believe it's not butter spray instead of real butter.

For the mashed potatoes you could use low fat milk, but we will just use regular milk and lots of butter as usual. I'll probably have a big serving of mashed potatoes and gravy - just cause it's t-day, but lower calories on the other items should help. I don't know what to do about the stuffing !

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 3:25 PM

bump

Monday, November 17, 2008, 2:20 PM

Fix yourself one small plate, enjoy it thoroughly, and call it a day.

It's often the days and days of eating yummy leftovers that turns one day into a weeklong calorie-fest.

Monday, November 17, 2008, 3:05 PM

My pumpkin pie this year will be totally different than usual. I'm taking ideas from different vegan cooks and came up with a plan for a pumpkin tart. Using organic gingersnaps ground with pecans for the crust, and subbing in silken tofu for the evaporated milk, and flaxmeal & garbanzo flour for the eggs. The funny part about all of this, is that I plan on making home made whipped cream in my Magic Bullet. I will use organic whipping cream from free range dairy cows if possible ;) I guess it's all about deciding where it's most important to splurge a little.

I'll be using No-Chicken Stock for the organic cornbread dressing and gravy, it's actually richer and tastier than normal chicken stock. The mashed potatoes will be made with a little organic butter and lite soy milk and fresh ground pepper. And the sweet potatoes will be baked with maple syrup instead of marshmallows. I'm making a fat free fresh corn & pepper medley, and a pan of roasted asparagus sprinkled with lightly toasted almond slivers.

I'm glad I saw this thread, it reminds me I need to bake the corn bread and let it dry out for the dressing! On Black Friday I am sending left overs home with the kids. And I almost forgot, I picked up the Champagne on sale this weekend, and there will be whole grain crackers with tofutti cream cheese and pepper jelly for appies.

Oh, and a bloody gin mary for the cook around 11am.....

Monday, November 17, 2008, 3:55 PM

I wanna go to your party!

Monday, November 17, 2008, 5:27 PM

One of the above posters said it right, DON'T skip breakfast. Still eat small, healthy meals up until the big event, this way you won't overindulge. I had started out last year 25 lbs heavier at the beginning of Nov so at this point during the holiday I was ready to take on the challenge and did pretty well (we'll see how I do this year! LOL!) But I made some dishes that I knew I wanted - healthy steamed veg, mashed SWEET potatoes, and although I made regular mashed potatoes I made them and mixed them with chicken broth and light/fat free sour cream (cuts way down on cals) but also made another version with carmelized onions and herb/garlic butter that others would enjoy. It's all a balance and about portion. Good luck to you all and enjoy the holiday!
Don't worry so much about the food as being with the people you enjoy being around and your loved ones!

Monday, November 17, 2008, 5:42 PM

Stuffing is crazy high in calories. So is anything creamy. or white sauce (or cheesy sauce). Overeating on thanksgiving is not worth it. If you're like me, you're lucky. I can't stand the taste of the food.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 9:01 AM

It's Thanksgiving!!! It's a time to enjoy ALL that the holiday brings without worrying about your diet. Enjoy everything in moderation, don't overeat, get in a good walk, and call it a day. One day is not going to ruin all your hard work.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 2:37 PM

When I cook I try not to push my weight loss agenda on my guests. I cook everything full on because I want my guests to enjoy their meal, and it's up to me to eat sensibly. Then I pack everyone a hefty to-go bag so I have minimal leftovers to pick at. I also do some form of exercise like a road race that morning to balance it out.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 2:52 PM

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