Thinner Thanksgiving Tip #1: Lighten Up!
Thanksgiving is soooo indulgent that there are easy areas to skim on calories that you won’t even notice. (And no one else will either)
Sour Cream – I still eat sour cream even though I know I could switch it for other things. I like it on baked potatos and on chicken nachos……However, on Thanksgiving, you’ll be eating so many different things that cutting this out makes a big difference. Use plain regular or Greek yogurt instead! It’s just as creamy and delicious I swear. If nothing else, at least buy fat free.
Butter and Oil – I understand that some recipes, especially those of the dessert variety, need butter as a molecular component to cook correctly. In those instances, I would look it up. I’m not always sure here. However, resist putting excess butter on top of already buttered items. I buy unsalted butter all the time and use it for everything. If you naturally use salted, here’s a great chance to cut down on a lot of sodium! If you can use other things than butter, do it. I just don’t know what they are 🙂 I think fruit puree?
Salt – Salt is delicious. I was on a low sodium diet for a few years while living in my parent’s house due to an illness in the family. So I don’t really have an issue with sodium and cutting it out. However, I do get salty cravings sometimes! The easiest way to cut out salt at this meal is (unfortunately….) what you brine your turkey in. I usually use salt, apples, oranges, cranberries, onion and herbs. This year I’m going to cut way way down on the salt and see what happens.
Rolls –I know I know I know. Bread is awesome. However, a buttered roll can cost you easily 350 calories. So for a lot of people, this can make it or break it. How many of us have more than one???? I will be having rolls, but just one at my thanksgiving feast. Why? Because I work out and I can! So if you are like me, go for it! If they are really big, just do what I do and steal half from someone else.
Don’t make it! – If there is a dish you don’t think you can handle eating way too much of……don’t make it. If there is a dish you could kinda care less about but it’s “tradition” but nobody really eats it…….don’t make it! I won’t be making sweet potato casserole this year. I only make it because I feel like we have to and I don’t really care. So I’m not going to. I’m pretty sure Pilgrim Police won’t show up at my door. Just saying.
To makeover a few Thanksgiving favorites:
