For the Americans of r/loseit, this week is full of temptation. Turkey! Potatoes and gravy! Stuffing! Casserole! PIE FOR DAYS!
I love all these foods, and I'm sure many of you feel the same. I am solidly in the camp of folks who recommend moderation instead of abstinence when it comes to rich food. That's what's working for me, anyway. And I am looking forward to having Thanksgiving as an indulgent day where I don't track terribly carefully and I give myself permission to eat whatever looks delicious until I am full.
THAT SAID, one thing I am doing to make this a healthier holiday is to have more of a focus on fruit and veg on the big day. In my house, I am the primary cook for Thanksgiving, so I have a lot of control over the menu. Even if that's not true for you, if your Thanksgiving hosts are open to at least some level of potluck style, you can volunteer to introduce some healthier options. You don't have to be boring about it or preach about the healthiness! Just...bring a tasty veggie. I'm making delicious pan fried green beans and glazed carrots and broccoli salad and setting out bowls of fresh fruit with my appetizers. Roasted vegetables are absolutely perfect for a holiday meal, healthy and filling (alas, my oven is too small to roast veggies around everything else I'm making!).
If you are hosting, you can also make some executive decisions about what NOT to serve. My family holiday recipes include 2 cheesy hot dishes: a ridiculously rich mac and cheese and also a true midwestern, french-fried-onion filled, cheez-whiz based broccoli rice casserole. Different friends asked for different recipes. In the past, I would have made both recipes to appease everyone and also, you know, get to eat both myself! But guys, we are already having sooooo much food, we won't even miss the 2nd cheese-based hot dish. I chose my favorite (the broccoli casserole, if you're curious) and I'm sticking with that. I'm prioritizing the veggies instead.
Just having veggies AVAILABLE makes the day easier to navigate. You can put a generous helping of your own veggies on your plate before you get anything else so that there's literally less room on your plate and you take smaller portions of the richer food. Eat the veggies first to help fill you up. Eat slowly so you can really savor every bite (this is really hard for me!). Also, when you eat slowly, you can actually feel when you get full and let yourself be content with stopping at fullness. If your house is anything like mine, there will be leftovers FOR DAYS, so you don't have to be in a rush to eat everything at once as a treat. Build those leftovers into your budget for the weekend and you'll be golden!
What are your tips and tricks for a Thanksgiving menu, friends?
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