Hard to believe that it is that time of year already. It feels like summer just ended and now I am thinking about what I am gonna serve for Thanksgiving dinner. I know for most people they use the holidays as an excuse to eat way more than they need to after all, they will do a New Year resolution and everything will be fine. Right??? Sorry. That is not the way it works. If you are not careful through this time of endless food and parties, you are going to need a lot more than a resolution to help get back on track. Did you ever stop to think that if you plan ahead and swap some bad choices out for healthier ones, you can still enjoy the "feast" without the guilt? I can hear you now getting all worked up because you don't want to give up the mashed potatoes and gravy -- and don't even think about taking my pie. Before your blood pressure goes through the roof, just calm down and keep reading. I said we could still enjoy the feast by swapping bad things out and replacing them with much healthier, chemical-free foods. How do you do that? Well I am glad you asked!
Let's start with the most obvious item on the menu, the turkey. Everybody loves that big, beautiful roasted masterpiece just waiting to be carved. It really is the center of the meal. When buying your turkey, the only word of caution I have is read the label. Believe it or not, the solutions they add to a turkey can be really bad for you since they are made up of a salt solution,usually MSG based. I try to find the brand that has the lowest amount injected and believe it or not there is a worst brand you can buy. It rhymes with "nutterball". This brand claims to be the juiciest and they are because of the solution added to them. Don't be fooled by this dangerous chemical that is added to your food.
Next comes the stuffing. Do not buy boxed stuffing. I can't put it any plainer than that. The boxed stuffing is loaded with all kinds of chemicals and the biggest one would be MSG again. Stuffing is just stale bread and spices. No chemicals. You can find a lot of different varieties online, so try something new!
Mashed potatoes are a must at any Thanksgiving dinner.But a lot of times people have the mashed potatoes and they also make a sweet potato dish. You don't need 2 kinds of starch. I usually make mashed sweet instead of white ones. The are so much better for you and taste so good! I usually just add a little butter and a dash of salt and they taste great. Sweet potatoes don't need a lot of junk added to them like marshmallows; they are naturally sweet on thier own. So pick the potatoes you like the best and stick with that.
Green bean casserole is must at any Thanksgiving feast in my book. But have you ever stopped and read what is in those crunchy onions we pour over the top? These little things are loaded with some very dangerous chemicals. Since I refuse to eat foods that are loaded with chemicals I had to find a healthier way to make this dish. I have a recipe I got from the Suzanne Somers message boards many years ago. It is a much better option then the chemically loaded one. Recipe to follow:)
Don't worry, I didn't forget about the gravy. In the name of all that is good and tasty, don't buy canned or jarred gravy. It is so easy to make and taste way better then any premade junk. I will post my favorite quick recipe at the end as well.
Cranberry sauce is easy to make from scratch, but beware of the sugar content here. It takes a lot of sugar to make and really should only be eaten in a small potion.
I don't make rolls anymore because it is just another carb I don't need. After all, I already have 'taters and stuffing; that is more than enough for anyone.
Onto dessert we go. I keep it pretty simple in my house. I make 2 apple pies and that is it. I cannot stand pumpkin pie and pecan pie is just way too sweet for me. I make my pie filling with agave instead of sugar to make it healthier and honestly you cannot even tell the difference. Agave has no bitter after taste that a lot of sugar substitutes have and it won't cause your insulin levels to spike. We also skip the ice cream on top and use fresh whipped cream sweetened with agave as well. Makes my mouth water jut thinking about it...
See you can have a feast and still eat healthy! All it takes is a little time to figure out what items on your menu are non-negotiable and how you can tweak them. Also keep in mind that portion control is big must. You really only need one plate of food and one piece of dessert. A little planning will go a long way in keeping you on track with your weight loss goals and trust me there is no better feeling then when you come through the holidays still losing weight!
Deb's Green Bean Casserole
1 bag frozen green beans(unthawed)
8 oz chopped mushrooms
1/2 onion chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
2 Tablespoon butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup mayo
1 cup shredded cheddar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Melt butter in skillet. Saute onions, celery, and mushrooms till soft. Blend mayo and cream. Add spices. Pour over green beans. Mix well. Mix in cheese. Cover and bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Uncover for the last 5 minutes of cooktime.
Pan Gravy
1 1/4 cups of rich brown drippings*
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Heat your drippings in a sauce pan. Combine flour and milk and shake till combined and dissolved. Slowly add to boiling broth and stir constantly till thickened and smooth. Add salt to taste.
*Be sure to allow time to separate the fat and drippings. Oxo makes a great fat separator or you can just chill the broth and all the fat will solidify on the top for easy removal. Just scrape it off!
