Setting a Skinny Table

Thanksgiving is approaching…One of the dieter’s worst nightmares. If you’re like me, Thanksgiving brings up feelings of stress, anxiety and dread. I don’t want to deny myself of the holiday, but I also don’t want to eat 2,500 calories in one meal.

Don’t go hungry! Skipping breakfast or lunch in order to save calories for the big spread isn’t the solution. You’ll be starving and make poor choices.

Use small spoons instead of large serving spoons. This is a good trick because you’ll dish up less portions than you would with a larger spoon. The trick is to just get one spoonful (not 5). 🙂

Set the table with small plates instead of large plates. It tricks your eyes (and hopefully your stomach) into thinking the smaller portions are just as filling.

Cover the dishes of food after people have dished up. Out of sight, out of mind.

Skip the roll (and the butter). Bread is the quickest way to add a bunch of calories.

Snack on a veggie tray with light dressing instead of chips. Honestly, I love me a veggie tray. There’s nothing better than fresh broccoli and cauliflower. If you don’t like “lite” dressing, try mixing half regular and half lite to save some calories.

Make steamed veggies instead of a veggie dish that’s loaded with cheese or butter. Fill half your plate with the vegetables.

Swap the potatoes with sweet potatoes. Lower in calories and just as yummy.

If you must have mashed potatoes, use chicken broth instead of butter. Or even better…try mashed cauliflower!

You don’t have to eat everything. Having just a taste of everything is perfectly fine…then get seconds of what you REALLY loved.

Instead of the Green Bean Casserole, sautee some green beans with onions. I’m not one of those people that feel like Green Bean Casserole is a must, so I wouldn’t miss it. But for those of you that would, search for a healthier version.

Include a green, leafy salad with lots of veggies in the feast–preferably before dinner is served.

Make a smaller pie. Only eat a small piece of the pie. Try low-calorie alternatives like Frozen Pumpkin Pie Mousse.

Remove the skin from turkey to save around 50 calories.

Make your own cranberry sauce, using half the sugar (or Splenda)  suggested in the recipe.

Don’t stuff yourself. Eating a serving of each dish that you like is plenty! But overdoing it means an angry stomach.

Don’t forget the water. There’s lots of goodies out there to drink…soda, eggnog…but check out how quickly they add up those calories:

• 1 cup of eggnog – 340 calories
• 1 pint of beer – 200 calories
• 1 glass of wine – 120 calorie
• 1 glass of sparkling grape juice – 120 calories
• 1 glass of soda – 140 calories
• 1 cup of tea or coffee with reduced fat milk – 15 calories

Some of the High Calorie Culprits:

Cranberries: 1/3 cup serving of the canned kind clocks in at 225 calories

Stuffing: 1/2 cup serving: 265 calories

Pumpkin Pie: For 1/8th pie: 340 calories

The Day After

Enjoy your Black Friday shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but at some point that next day…fit in some exercise. Turn your food guilt into a productive thing and move your body! And I don’t mean just walking from store to store. Try to get some kind of workout in.

And keep in mind this important fact: Thanksgiving is only ONE DAY. If you over-indulge, don’t beat yourself up about it. However, a slip up is NOT an excuse to just give up entirely.

Remember: Christmas is right around the corner!

QUESTION: What’s your battle plan for the holidays?