Stress Free Holiday Feasting

Well, here it is again, my favorite eating holiday!  Over the years, I have found that the only way I can truly enjoy eating Thanksgiving dinner, is if I do the cooking.  Not because I love my grandmother's German noodle recipe more than any other dish on the planet, (that's a given!), but rather because I know where I can skim off calories without anyone ever noticing.  I can substitute sugars, butters and starches with healthy alternatives with just a few adjustments to my regular favorite recipes. Here's a few examples of what you can make that everyone will love, and you won't feel guilty about eating!

Leslie's Holiday Cranberry / Raspberry Relish

Ingredients

10 oz. frozen organic raspberries (thawed & drained) = 70 cal.
1 bag Fresh cranberries = 100 cal. approx.
2 finely diced granny smith apples (with skin!) = 100 cal.
1/2 C. Smuckers Sugar Free Orange Marmalade = 80 cal.
"Equal" to sweeten = usually a few packets or the equivalent to 1C. Sugar

Serves 10 = 350 Total Calories
35 calories per serving!

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Sweet Potato Pie!

This one's an instant classic, I promise. By substituting butternut squash for sweet potatoes and using some key light ingredients, you can save over 200 calories and nearly 17 grams of fat per serving on this Turkey Day classic. And it tastes EXACTLY like the real thing (yes, EXACTLY). Now THAT'S something to be thankful for! Butternut squash, with half the calories (and all the yummy fun) of sweet potato, is our new best friend.

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash (large enough to yield 2 cups mashed flesh)
1/2 cup Egg Beaters;
Original 1/3 cup light Vanilla Soymilk
1/3 cup sugar-free maple syrup (Cary's is the best!)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup SPLENDA or EQUAL; Granular
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2/3 cup miniature marshmallows

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel squash and cut into large chunks (removing seeds). Fill a large, microwave-safe dish with a half an inch of water. Place squash into dish and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for approximately 8 minutes (and drain). Squash should be tender enough to mash, but not fully cooked. With a potato masher, food processor or fork, mash squash. Measure out 2 generous cups, lightly packed, and place in an oven-safe baking dish. Add all ingredients except for marshmallows. Mix ingredients thoroughly, but do not over-stir; squash should still be pulpy. Allow to cook for 45 – 50 minutes. Remove from oven, and disperse marshmallows over top of pie. Return to oven for 5 minutes, until marshmallows begin to brown. Allow to cool. Serves 4.

Serving Size: 1/4 recipe; approx. 2/3 cup; Calories: 110; Fat: <0.5g; Sodium: 115mg; Carbs: 25g; Fiber: 1.5g; Sugars: 7.5g ; Protein: 5g; *2 Points (Weight Watchers)

Top "ATE" Thanksgiving Tips 'n Tricks!

Eight great ways to avoid the typically unavoidable Thanksgiving bloat...

1. Eat breakfast and a protein-packed lunch before the big feast. If you starve yourself during the day, you could wind up SO crazy-famished by the time you sit down at the dinner table that you gobble up WAY too much food.

2. Go for lean, white meat turkey to get the most bang for your calorie-buck. Dark meat has about 15% more calories and 30 - 40% more fat than light meat. And ditch the skin while you're at it (that's where most of the fat hangs out!).

3. Drink plenty of H2O throughout the day and during the big meal. It'll keep you hydrated and clear-minded (so you'll be less likely to make bad food choices), and it'll help fill you up faster.

4. Treat yourself to small portions of the seasonal side dishes and desserts you've been craving all year long. If you deprive yourself, you could end up raiding the fridge in the middle of the night and going overboard!

5. Start with a salad and/or some soup. Then fill your plate mostly with healthy sides and lots of lean meat. Chances are you'll be pretty satisfied and full by the time dessert is served.

6. Bring along a tasty guilt-free dish, so you know you'll have at least one thing you can splurge on. And if you're not into baking, or just feeling lazy, toss together a fresh fruit salad (try drizzling it with some Torani Sugar Free Coconut Syrup).

7. Burn calories, not the turkey. Remember, the more calories you torch with activity, the more you can consume without gaining weight come Turkey Day. If you've got the day off from work, you really have no excuse to skip the exercise (okay, unless you're prepping dinner all day... then you have an excuse!). If you can’t get in a full workout pre-festivities, make a point to take Fido on a fast-paced walk, take the stairs all day long (two at a time if you can take it!), and just try to be extra-active throughout the day. You could even organize a game of tag football with your family members (you know you've been looking for an excuse to tackle one of your irritating relatives!).

8. Wear your favorite form-fitting clothes and you'll be way less likely to overeat. No stretchy pants, people!!

Now go and enjoy your holidays, guilt free and if you DO end up eating too much, you can always come to Topham Street Gym on Friday at 9:00-10:00am for AAA (Abs, Arms & Ass) to burn 500-800 calories!