Many of us will soon be gathered around a table piled with high-calorie foods. Some people will dig in and not even consider the calorie and fat-content of the meal. Others will think about all the butter, gluten, carbs, meat, and sweets and fall into a state of #SOBikini Thanksgiving confusion.
First, take a few calming breaths. Now, we will tackle the mountain of foods together!
Make a Decision and a Plan
Decide to treat the holidays in the same way you treat a normal day: serve yourself reasonable portions selected from the best tasting healthiest food available for the meal at that day, and enjoy it.
Load up on the vegetables first. 3/4 of the plate should be full of veggies and 1/4 of the plate for tasting size servings of the higher calorie part of the meal.
Workarounds and Tweaks
If you are the cook, feel free to tweak the recipes. Here are some simple reminders!
Most recipes, butters and oils can be reduced at least a little bit (except baking, where the ratio of ingredients is important). Reduce salt: Increase the herbs and seasonings. Add a splash of acidic flavors such as lemon juice, Tabasco, or vinegar. Cut the sausage in the stuffing by half. It will still taste great. Instead of tossing salad with dressing before dinner, set out cruets of different dressings and make sure one dressing option is a good quality aged balsamic vinegar. Set out pitchers of water along with the wine. Add one low fat, low carb, or vegan dish to the table.
None of this is drastic and the result is a traditional meal that is lower calorie and healthier for everyone.
Final Thoughts
If you end up eating a little more than you intended, don’t fuss, just go for a nice walk after dinner and enjoy the fresh air. Smile as you are taking in the fall weather! This day, at this moment, simply choose the healthiest out of the available delicious food.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy #SOBikini Thanksgiving! Tweet your healthy dishes to @thebikinichef.
