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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love spending the day in the kitchen preparing food that brings family and friends together to indulge in food that brings so many happy memories and joy.You can indulge and be quite satisfied without going into a food coma. Here are some of my favorite tips and recipes that will provide you with an abundance of delicious foods. Remember that the biggest treat is spending time with family and friends. What are some of your favorite recipes for Thanksgiving?
Tips for not feeling stuffed like the bird on Turkey Day:
* Make sure you don’t go into this meal hungry. Do try to “save” your calories. Eat a good breakfast and lunch. A recent study proved that people who ate a 600-calorie breakfast lost five times more than people who took their calories spread throughout the day. If you don’t eat all day, then hit a big dinner and have a drink… you’re doomed to overeat. Being starving, plus having a little buzz will lead to extra poundage.
* Go light on the appetizers. Ask yourself, “Why do I need to eat before I eat?” If you’re hosting, serve a cold or grilled veggie platter with salsa, hummus or balsamic vinaigrette instead of some creamy dip. Now, let’s say you’re at someone else’s house. If an appetizer is wrapped in dough (like a mushroom or crab puff) or deep fried, then just skip it. Make these nuts and bring them as a gift: Soak mixed nuts overnight in sea salt and spring water. Drain and place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon and then coat with a bit of vanilla extract. Bake until crunchy at 300 degrees.
* Start the meal with a salad. An easy one to make this time of year is made out of butter lettuce, roasted walnuts, red onion, cranberries and apples. Toss in some pomegranate seeds. Use olive oil and vinegar as your dressing.
* Thanksgiving is about the bird, which can be a very healthy protein. Just makes sure to remove the skin, before eating your turkey. White meat is a leaner choice, but dark meat is richer in iron. Skip the white flour gravy which has zero nutritional value.
* Try a bread-free stuffing made from wild rice with chestnuts, apples, onions, mushrooms and red peppers in it. Use this as an opportunity to shift into a new tradition.
* Replace the sweet potatoes covered with marshmallows with a stuffed squash. Cut a medium butternut squash in half and remove the seeds. Place the halves with the cut side facing up on a cookie sheet. Cover with foil and bake for 40 to 50 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven and scoop out the squashy flesh. Mix it with equal parts cooked brown rice. Add half a cup of chopped onions browned in extra virgin olive oil, a teaspoon of parsley and a half-cup of chopped pecans or walnuts.
Still worried about gaining weight over the holidays? Check out my U3 Transformation Method and you will have nothing to worry about! DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST OF THE YEAR – it will be much harder then!
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