How to Enjoy Thanksgiving but with Less Fat

I may just be one of the only people in the country that doesn't love Thanksgiving dinner. Every year I tell someone who is amazed, and every year my family makes fun of me. I'm not a fan of some of the dishes--don't like the stuffing much, hate the sweet potatoes, and I'm not a lover of real mashed potatoes. I know, it sounds crazy but I like to keep to a few of the things that I like, but of course tend to overeat even those. As I am a health conscious eater all year round, I try to be mindful of what I'm making for my family. Cutting out a few things or making a couple of modifications on the classic recipes can help to make your Thanksgiving feast a little bit healthier.

I make the green bean casserole every year, and yes I am one of those people who never use a recipe. (except for when I bake) That being said, I have developed my own mixture that I create every year--and though my family doesn't know it, I make it in a much healthier way. I substitute the fat laden sour cream and cream of mushroom for lower fat versions--everything tastes the same but with half the fat! I also pump up the spices to cut down on other fatty ingredients that are sometimes called for (such as mayo) and use things like dill and a touch of seasoned salt to pump up the flavor without pumping up the calories.

When I make the mashed potatoes, I add in a few simple elements to make it healthier. If it was up to me, I'd be using the instant mashed option but that's not a family favorite. I make the mashed potatoes using chicken broth, it not only adds flavor but also helps you to use less fatty ingredients such as heavy cream. For a bit of flavor boost, I mix the final product with reduced fat cream cheese. Nobody knows that it's lower fat, but it helps to make the potatoes much creamier. For the gravy, we use a little bit of the pan drippings for flavor, but then add in a low fat gravy. You still get the flavor, but not loaded with the fat.

I try to be certain that we serve plenty of veggies--starting with the appetizer. If you're munching away on appetizers at Thanksgiving, you want to have some lower fat options such as veggies with dip. The veggies will start to fill you up, and you can mix your own low fat dip with reduced fat sour cream and vegetable soup mix. I also ensure that we have a big salad on the Thanksgiving table. This will help to boost your vegetable intake, and also fill up your plate so you're not loaded down with the fatty foods.

There are the obvious things that can apply to any recipe or dish that you put together. Use a reduced fat milk, sour cream, or cream cheese whenever the recipe calls for such ingredients. You can still get all the taste, but with much fewer calories. More important than anything else is portion. It's easy to forget at Thanksgiving that portion control is key to staying on track with your healthy lifestyle. You can easily get carried away, but if you bulk up on the veggies and healthy options and allow yourself smaller portions of the fattening foods, you will win the battle. If you must end the meal with dessert, go for pumpkin pie as it's a little healthier and as with anything else, keep your portions small. Enjoy a good meal with much less fat--it will be a Thanksgiving to remember!