Tips For a Healthy Thanksgiving Feast

Looking to make your Thanksgiving a little healthier this year? Who would blame you; research shows that the average Thanksgiving dinner has well over 2000 calories. Yes it is delicious, but it could also make you gain a few unwanted pounds. Fortunately, there is something we can do about it to make our Thanksgiving feast a bit lighter and more enjoyable for everyone.

If you are attending a dinner as a guest, do not go to the invitation with an empty stomach. Hunger often causes us to eat faster and consume more food. Try to eat a satisfying breakfast and lunch before heading out to avoid stuffing yourself come dinner time. Keep in mind as well that Thanksgiving dinner is not a "All-You-Can-Eat Chinese Buffet." Set some limits and stop eating when you are full, don't just eat to eat.

When it comes to the main part of dinner, your turkey, go skinless. Doing so will instantly cut away some unneeded fat and cholesterol from your meal. This will free up some space for some delicious desert and side dishes. Lastly, while you are chugging down your food, opt out on the alcohol or caffeinated beverages and grab yourself a nice cold glass of water. Other beverages can dehydrate your body and will not be as filling. Drinking water will make sure your body stays hydrated and will also fill up your stomach allowing you to eat more moderate sized portions.

If you are on the other end of the spectrum and find yourself cooking for guests, make sure you substitute high in fat ingredients with their low fat or fat free alternatives. Almost any food we eat these days has a lesser evil, make sure you opt for those in your cooking. Let's take for example a recipe that calls for 1 whole egg. We could simply substitute one whole egg for 2 egg whites. Some other great substitutions include: low fat plain yogurt or low fat sour cream for a recipe calling for sour cream, skim or 1% milk for a recipe calling for milk, and frozen yogurt for a recipe calling for ice cream.

Some other tips to consider f you find yourself with some leftover turkey; try making a delicious pot of soup with fresh country vegetables instead of turkey sandwiches. Also, search around the Internet for low fat recipes that call for turkey as their main ingredient and be creative! Your family will love you for it.

Make sure to follow the tips highlighted above for a low-fat and still delicious thanksgiving feast that you and your family will enjoy.