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Thanksgiving Tips

Posted: 11/23/2011

Did you know it's estimated that the average person will consume over 4,000 calories on Thanksgiving Day alone?  This is more than double our daily baseline calorie needs! That's well over a pound that most folks gain just in one day.

 

Not to mention the additional caloric surplus that comes from munching on all the leftovers in the days that follow.

 

While "Healthy Thanksgiving" doesn't quite have the appeal of the more familiar "Happy Thanksgiving" greeting, I use it to make the point that Thanksgiving dinner doesn't have to be a totally unhealthy event.

 

After all, there is a lot to like about the ingredients in Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey and ham can be a healthy, low-fat meat, if prepared correctly. Sweet potatoes, yams, winter squash and pumpkin are all loaded with vitamin A and other important nutrients.  Cranberries are a nutrition powerhouse and broccoli and fruit salad are two of my personal favorites.

 

So here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas meals ones that contribute to your health and hopefully keep you under the 4000 calorie splurge that is common.

 

1) Skip the basting. Choose a plain bird and cook in a bag to seal in the moisture. Remove the skin before serving.

 

2) Use ingredients like whole wheat bread, vegetables, fruits (cranberries, raisins, dates or apples), nuts and your favorite spices for the stuffing and bake it in the oven rather than in the turkey.

 

3) Serve your sweet potatoes or yams baked rather than candied and let your guests add butter to taste.

I like to add a little splenda.

 

4) Use skim milk or buttermilk rather than whole milk and skip the butter if you make mashed potatoes.

 

5) Give your meal gourmet appeal by cooking your green vegetables with garlic, nuts and herbs rather than creamy or fat-laden sauces.

 

6) Don't serve the meal on your largest plates. By using smaller plates you ensure smaller portion size and even that second helping isn't quite so damaging.

 

7) Of course try to eat (and drink) healthy and moderately every other day around the holidays knowing you are going to probably splurge on occasion and it won't be quite as damaging overall.

 

And of course, if you're involved in a good regular exercise program this does give you more room for error to be able to burn it off.

 

Bon Appétit and have a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Save those calories!

Posted: 04/26/2011

Use substitutions to eat healthy.

The Whole Truth about Whole Wheat

Posted: 02/23/2011

As a reader of these Fit Tips you probably have a general interest in health and nutrition.  Therefore, I'm sure you are aware of the principle that we should eat more whole grains and less white/processed grains. Eating a diet rich in whole grains may even help reduce your chances of having a stroke, or developing diabetes or heart disease.  Whole...