Question of the Day: Thanksgiving Substitutions

By: Tanya Taylor, PhD | Nov 21, 2007

What's one way in which you are making Thanksgiving dinner a little healthier? Since, I'm a participant in the eating of the meal (and not the cooking of it), to make my Thanksgiving dinner healthier, I'm doing very small portions of the things that I like and limiting myself to 1 or 2 carbohydrates in the meal - there are so many ... stuffing, pie, mashed potatoes, bread rolls. Let's hear your thoughts because I know some people could use the inspiration. Discuss this either in the Food Forum or leave a comment here.

Comments

Wed: November 21, 2007
Claudia Blanton said:

First of all, cool site!
What do I do, to make Thanksgiving healthier?
Bring a salad, and my homemade Whole-wheat-Cranberry-Banana- Bread!
I do not let anyone serve me, that way I won't have a pile of food in front of me to start. Savoring every bite slows eating down, so I really enjoy it, and stop as soon as I feel the slightest bit full. Overeating doesn't work for me. And then take a moment to go for a walk, leisurly, conversation speed.
Have a great day!

Claudia

Wed: November 21, 2007
Queen Bee said:

Lots of protein (turkey sans gravy) and veggies and salad. I usually eat my salad first, because I'm hungry and it tastes best at the beginning of the meal and it's filling. Small "taste" portions of the fattening stuff (mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes etc) and dessert? A microthin slice, just enough to get the taste.

Wed: November 21, 2007
emily said:

Thanksgiving Substitutions...

Mashed potatoes: Try mashed sweet potatotes for a different taste! They need less butter because they are already so flavorfull! If you are brave, try mashed cauliflower...I have never tried it, but have heard that it is GREAT!

Greenbean Casserole:
Try just cooking some fresh green beans in a little extra virgin olive oil with a small handfull of slivered almods!

Turkey: Of course stick with the lean white meat!

Rolls...are good and I dont have a substitute so just stick with one!

Dessert: In my family we are not big dessert people, so we dont usually have any. However, if you are like the majority of people then "have your cake and eat it too". Just keep the portion small!

Lastly.....Enjoy your family (it is Thanksgiving after all!). Take a walk together or get outside and start up a little football game....whatever it takes to get moving!

Fri: November 23, 2007
Hunter said:

I made a delicious salad to go along with a tofurky and many other things, but the salad was great.

I just used maybe 2 or 3 cups of chopped kale, put in a teaspoon of salt, and masssaged it. Once you massage it for like 3 minutes, the salt wilts it. Then just throw in some pomegranates and maybe some pumpkin seeds and a few sprays of that balsamic vinagerette salad spritzer. It came out amazing! The kale has a really good texture when it wilts.