Are you ready for thanksgiving? Is your family coming to your house? Are you traveling? Is your church or other social organization having a potluck?
You plans for Thanksgiving can have a lot to do with how you plan your eating for the weekend. If you are cooking, this is a good time to stock up on:
- Sugar substitute (powder, brown, white, granular)
- Butter Buds
- Non-fat or low-fat Mushroom soup
- Non-fat or low fat Chicken stock/broth
- Non-fat or low fat whipped topping, cream cheese, etc
- Frozen veggies
Most of your favorite recipes can be modified simply by substituting for the sugar and fats contained in your dishes.
Other suggestions:
- When using nuts, choose the healthier cashews and almonds.
- Choose to bake or boil or broil rather than fry.
- Try baked sweet potatoes rather than mashed white potatoes
- If you have to candy veggies, use the sugar substitutes
- When making dips, use the non-fat cream cheese or non-fat sour cream
- LIGHT on the SALT
- Accent is a great flavor enhancer, but it is mostly sodium – try not to use it. A small amount of vinegar will have the same affect.
- Make or buy breads in whole grain – not processed white flour
- Turkey breast is the leanest meat for you. And leftover turkey can be ground for turkey sandwiches, mixed with non-fat mayo and seasoned with onion and your other favorites.
You might even want to plan your menu now. Try to balance it for protein, dairy products, carbohydrates, starches, and fats. If you are taking a dish somewhere, make it one that you can eat. Fresh veggie trays are always a hit. And sugar free/fat free deserts can be very tempting.
I have written this post as if the only reason for Thanksgiving is to feast. Actually, it is a time for friends and family to come together to reflect on the good things in like and enjoy the time together. When you are at your festivities, keep this in mind. Just as we need to be aware while we eat, we also need to be aware when socializing with friends and family.
We all need help and ideas. Please leave your suggestions in a comment. I know you all have good ones.
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