The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
No holiday says food like Thanksgiving. As a celebration of the successful harvest, Thanksgiving is literally a celebration of food. With our tables overflowing with seemingly endless courses of fabulous food, how can we make it through to Tuesday without blowing our plan big time on Monday night? Here are some suggestions, including tips from our Community boards users. Take control of the food before it takes control of you. As the executive chef, you can decide what goes in, and what stays out of your meal. There are plenty of ways to prepare healthy versions of traditional Thanksgiving fare. "I am in charge of the cooking," says Crystal from Alberta. "My turkey will be roasted and stuffed with wild rice and brown rice, cranberries, apples and raisins. The gravy will be made with the drippings, fat taken off, mixed with orange or apple juice and thickened with a little flour. There will be pumpkin pie, but my piece will be without the crust and whipping cream. Veggies are mashed potatoes, spaghetti squash and turnips, cauliflower and a big salad with fruit." Travelling Light Even if you're going to someone else's home for the holiday, you still have control over what, and how much, you eat. Plan ahead and bring a dish you've prepared. Your host, and your waistline, will thank you for it. "We're going away for Thanksgiving, but I'll be sure to be the good guest and show up with a dish that will be a little more 'friendly' for anyone who is watching their weight," says Trina from Saskatchewan. "I'm thinking a pineapple dessert, with low-fat Cool Whip, fat-free vanilla pudding, and crushed pineapples over a graham wafer crust." Sandra, from Ontario, is also planning a light Thanksgiving holiday this year. "We'll be going to my mother-in-law's for Thanksgiving. I will probably bring a salad since the vegetables are usually few and far between. I am also thinking of making a crust-less pumpkin pie. I know I will probably be the only one there who walks away from the table without that stuffed, bloated, 'I ate too much' feeling. I do not miss that feeling at all!" Small Indulgences But don't deprive yourself. You really can taste everything and still avoid the traditional Thanksgiving loosening of the pants. "I will indulge in things that I wouldn't have on a regular basis, but I will only have a little of each, like a little stuffing, and a small piece of pumpkin pie," says Nancy from Alberta. Don't forget, there are more ways to spend time with family on Thanksgiving than just sitting around, eating. Why not go for a walk after supper, or get a game of touch football going in the afternoon? "While the turkey is roasting," says Crystal, "everyone goes for a two-hour hike in Kananski Country just a few minutes outside Calgary. We've been doing this for years and everyone loves it!" As these boards users have shown, it's possible to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal without doing any major damage to your weight loss efforts. If you're doing the cooking, substitute low-fat ingredients wherever you can. If you're someone's guest this year, be helpful by bringing along a healthy dish. And as always, be mindful of your portions. With only a little extra effort, your holiday can be happy and healthy. Now that's something to be thankful for!
