Diet Thanksgiving

By Candy

There’s nothing like the holiday season to take your diet from unwavering success to ultimate disaster. Who can say no to Aunt Sally’s homemade cranberry sauce or that mouthwatering turkey Grandpa cuts every year with his fancy electric knife/chainsaw?

Problem is, a typical meal on Turkey Day holds about 3,000 calories – and that’s just dinner alone! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to stay on track and eat just 2,000 calories throughout the entire day. Wahoo!

Rest assured; you don’t have to give up meat on Thanksgiving. A hearty four ounces of skinless, white meat turkey contains a mere 150 calories. But if you’re craving dark meat and that crispy, salty skin, indulging will only rack up another 100 calories.

Homemade sweet potatoes smothered in butter, cream and sugar – that’s your idea of a side dish. Um, hello! That adds up to roughly 300 calories per serving! Have your taters plain, ensuring that you’ll enjoy a little sweetness while absorbing some wonderful nutrients: calcium, iron and Vitamins A and C.

If it’s those pesky carbs you’re avoiding, try mashed cauliflower in place of potatoes. Add soy milk and garlic to those very cooked little white trees and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the exchange. Even with butter, the veggie has just six carbs!

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without some sweet, sweet pumkin. To avoid all that sugar, add some pumpkin spice into hot chocolate or apple cider. It’ll be just as tasty as the rest of the pie you’re eyeing but far better for your favorite pair of jeans.

And if Thanksgiving is your day to splurge, go ahead! You won’t be happy if you deprive yourself. But remembering a few tips will help you eat healthily, causing far less damage to your diet.