Thanksgiving - What are you eating?

I'm right in the middle of trying to lose the last 5 lbs before we leave for
Germany Dec 9, so I'm thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. Usually, I don't care
about the sickening amounts of food, what's one day in a year? But this
year, because I'm trying to lose, and hubby is trying to lower his
cholesterol, I'm going to make an effort to make a healthier feast. But I
don't want to sacrifice taste. We're planning on turkey with all the
trimmings. Turkey itself is pretty darned healthy. It's the bajillion side
dishes that are too delicious to pass up. So my plan is to only make a
couple sides, and to cut way back on butter usage. And there's no sense in
having rolls, stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so we'll probably just chose
one. This year it'll be steamed green beans instead of the green bean
casserole, and Promise Light in the spuds instead of butter and cream.

I'm still trying to figure out the dessert. What are some healthier
versions of the old favorites? I'll still make a batch of fudge, but I plan
on giving most of it away.

"determined" wrote in message
...
I'm right in the middle of trying to lose the last 5 lbs before we leave
for Germany Dec 9, so I'm thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. Usually, I
don't care about the sickening amounts of food, what's one day in a year?
But this year, because I'm trying to lose, and hubby is trying to lower
his cholesterol, I'm going to make an effort to make a healthier feast.
But I don't want to sacrifice taste. We're planning on turkey with all
the trimmings. Turkey itself is pretty darned healthy. It's the
bajillion side dishes that are too delicious to pass up. So my plan is to
only make a couple sides, and to cut way back on butter usage. And
there's no sense in having rolls, stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so we'll
probably just chose one. This year it'll be steamed green beans instead
of the green bean casserole, and Promise Light in the spuds instead of
butter and cream.

I'm still trying to figure out the dessert. What are some healthier
versions of the old favorites? I'll still make a batch of fudge, but I
plan on giving most of it away.

Funny you should ask. Just yesterday, I tried my mother's famous pumpkin
pie recipe with Splenda, and it was rather disappointing. I have had good
luck this year with canning pears and apples in Splenda, water, and
cinnamon, so I'm inclined to try a Splenda apple pie.

Besides that, the usual:
-roast turkey
-stuffing from inside the bird for folks who need calories; stuffing cooked
outside the bird, with no added fat, for folks who don't
-turkey gravy for folks who need calories
-peas
-cranberry sauce (this could be made with Splenda, but I doubt I'll go to
the trouble)
-grilled squash and onions*
-whole grain baguettes from the local bakery

*[footnote] I totally love the indoor grill I got last year as a gift, for
*vegetables* and fish. It makes veggies taste super, especially if you
grill some tomatoes, onions, garlic, and/or fresh herbs with your veggie of
choice. It's one of those "George Foreman" type grills, that opens like a
waffle iron and has a non-stick surfaces. If you want to add olive oil,
it's super, but it works fine with no added fat whatsoever.

One of my guests is a diabetic who can't eat sugar, another has congestive
heart disease and can't eat salt, so there's extra motivation this year for
me to use lots of herbs for flavor (instead of salt) and eliminate sugar out
of my recipes.

ep

determined wrote:
I'm right in the middle of trying to lose the last 5 lbs before we leave for
Germany Dec 9, so I'm thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. Usually, I don't care
about the sickening amounts of food, what's one day in a year? But this
year, because I'm trying to lose, and hubby is trying to lower his
cholesterol, I'm going to make an effort to make a healthier feast. But I
don't want to sacrifice taste. We're planning on turkey with all the
trimmings. Turkey itself is pretty darned healthy. It's the bajillion side
dishes that are too delicious to pass up. So my plan is to only make a
couple sides, and to cut way back on butter usage. And there's no sense in
having rolls, stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so we'll probably just chose
one. This year it'll be steamed green beans instead of the green bean
casserole, and Promise Light in the spuds instead of butter and cream.

I'm still trying to figure out the dessert. What are some healthier
versions of the old favorites? I'll still make a batch of fudge, but I plan
on giving most of it away.

My sister and I usually eat out on Thanksgiving. We started this
tradition back in the 80's after our mother passed away. We tell our
kids they can visit their in-laws or join us but there will be no
cooking at anyones house. Overeating has never been a problem when I
eat out. I'll have turkey, no dressing (never did like it), a couple
of vegetables and a small dessert. We often do some stocking stuffer
shopping after dinner then head home. This year I might get a bike
ride in if the weather is decent.

Beverly - who saves the overeating to Christmas

"Edna Pearl" wrote in message
...
"determined" wrote in message
...
I'm right in the middle of trying to lose the last 5 lbs before we leave
for Germany Dec 9, so I'm thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. Usually, I
don't care about the sickening amounts of food, what's one day in a year?
But this year, because I'm trying to lose, and hubby is trying to lower
his cholesterol, I'm going to make an effort to make a healthier feast.
But I don't want to sacrifice taste. We're planning on turkey with all
the trimmings. Turkey itself is pretty darned healthy. It's the
bajillion side dishes that are too delicious to pass up. So my plan is
to only make a couple sides, and to cut way back on butter usage. And
there's no sense in having rolls, stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so we'll
probably just chose one. This year it'll be steamed green beans instead
of the green bean casserole, and Promise Light in the spuds instead of
butter and cream.

I'm still trying to figure out the dessert. What are some healthier
versions of the old favorites? I'll still make a batch of fudge, but I
plan on giving most of it away.

Funny you should ask. Just yesterday, I tried my mother's famous pumpkin
pie recipe with Splenda, and it was rather disappointing. I have had good
luck this year with canning pears and apples in Splenda, water, and
cinnamon, so I'm inclined to try a Splenda apple pie.

I love pumpkin custard. I just make the pumpkin pie mix and pour into
custard cups and bake. I have had good succes with splenda in my pumpkin
pie though... Today I made an apple crisp without any sweetener in the
apples - I just soaked them in a bit of spiced apple cider and it turned out
great.

Desert could be a walk outside

And then maybe some coffee and a bit of chocolate after that?

Or maybe it is possible to do a crustless pumpkin pie, using eggs in the
pumpkin. They might be baked in muffin tins, if that shoudl suit your
wishes.

And maybe using vanilla to enhance the sweetness, so that you can reduce
some of the sugar in the recipe? I am sure Google has options.

"determined" wrote in message
...
I'm right in the middle of trying to lose the last 5 lbs before we leave
for Germany Dec 9, so I'm thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. Usually, I
don't care about the sickening amounts of food, what's one day in a year?
But this year, because I'm trying to lose, and hubby is trying to lower
his cholesterol, I'm going to make an effort to make a healthier feast.
But I don't want to sacrifice taste. We're planning on turkey with all
the trimmings. Turkey itself is pretty darned healthy. It's the
bajillion side dishes that are too delicious to pass up. So my plan is to
only make a couple sides, and to cut way back on butter usage. And
there's no sense in having rolls, stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so we'll
probably just chose one. This year it'll be steamed green beans instead
of the green bean casserole, and Promise Light in the spuds instead of
butter and cream.

I'm still trying to figure out the dessert. What are some healthier
versions of the old favorites? I'll still make a batch of fudge, but I
plan on giving most of it away.


Well - since you guys aren't coming here - and we had already taken the
whole week off - we are going to the Keys to go diving for the week. oh
and might hook up with Dally if we can jibe our schedules together

Anyhow - I don't think we'll be doing a big dinner. I'll have to get a
small turkey and do some basics. Sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing and
cranberries.

I always do a pumpkin pie - and with splenda, you can make it pretty low
fat/lower sugar.

"LFM" wrote in message
. ..

"determined" wrote in message
...
I'm right in the middle of trying to lose the last 5 lbs before we leave
for Germany Dec 9, so I'm thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. Usually, I
don't care about the sickening amounts of food, what's one day in a year?
But this year, because I'm trying to lose, and hubby is trying to lower
his cholesterol, I'm going to make an effort to make a healthier feast.
But I don't want to sacrifice taste. We're planning on turkey with all
the trimmings. Turkey itself is pretty darned healthy. It's the
bajillion side dishes that are too delicious to pass up. So my plan is
to only make a couple sides, and to cut way back on butter usage. And
there's no sense in having rolls, stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so we'll
probably just chose one. This year it'll be steamed green beans instead
of the green bean casserole, and Promise Light in the spuds instead of
butter and cream.

I'm still trying to figure out the dessert. What are some healthier
versions of the old favorites? I'll still make a batch of fudge, but I
plan on giving most of it away.


Well - since you guys aren't coming here - and we had already taken the
whole week off -

Do I sense a bit of sarcasm? You do know that I would rather be there than
freezing my ass off with the non-english speaking inlaws in germany, don't
you?

"determined" wrote in message
...

Well - since you guys aren't coming here - and we had already taken the
whole week off -

Do I sense a bit of sarcasm? You do know that I would rather be there
than freezing my ass off with the non-english speaking inlaws in germany,
don't you?

Yes, I'm aware of that.

We still have our disney tickets we could go use, and - since I like the
Keys, especially for diving and all the water sports I am looking forward
to the week. I just had to rub in that dig. :-)

we're going to the family gathering and the plan is to just have a half
cup of the stuffing and so on instead of filling the plate and seconds
are not an option and we are making a surgarfree cheesecake that we
have not tried and is said to taste great
determined wrote:
I'm right in the middle of trying to lose the last 5 lbs before we leave for
Germany Dec 9, so I'm thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. Usually, I don't care
about the sickening amounts of food, what's one day in a year? But this
year, because I'm trying to lose, and hubby is trying to lower his
cholesterol, I'm going to make an effort to make a healthier feast. But I
don't want to sacrifice taste. We're planning on turkey with all the
trimmings. Turkey itself is pretty darned healthy. It's the bajillion side
dishes that are too delicious to pass up. So my plan is to only make a
couple sides, and to cut way back on butter usage. And there's no sense in
having rolls, stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so we'll probably just chose
one. This year it'll be steamed green beans instead of the green bean
casserole, and Promise Light in the spuds instead of butter and cream.

I'm still trying to figure out the dessert. What are some healthier
versions of the old favorites? I'll still make a batch of fudge, but I plan
on giving most of it away.

In article ,
"determined" wrote:

I'm right in the middle of trying to lose the last 5 lbs before we leave for
Germany Dec 9, so I'm thinking ahead to Thanksgiving. Usually, I don't care
about the sickening amounts of food, what's one day in a year? But this
year, because I'm trying to lose, and hubby is trying to lower his
cholesterol, I'm going to make an effort to make a healthier feast. But I
don't want to sacrifice taste. We're planning on turkey with all the
trimmings. Turkey itself is pretty darned healthy. It's the bajillion side
dishes that are too delicious to pass up. So my plan is to only make a
couple sides, and to cut way back on butter usage. And there's no sense in
having rolls, stuffing AND mashed potatoes, so we'll probably just chose
one. This year it'll be steamed green beans instead of the green bean
casserole, and Promise Light in the spuds instead of butter and cream.

I'm still trying to figure out the dessert. What are some healthier
versions of the old favorites? I'll still make a batch of fudge, but I plan
on giving most of it away.

I think we're shaking things up a bit this year--skipping the family
trough (and drama) and heading for our cabin. When I asked the girls if
this was okay with them, they said it was great--and can we have lasagna
instead of turkey?

So--looks like we'll be eating lasagna, green salad, and garlic bread
for Thanksgiving this year. It'll save hours of cooking for a ten-minute
repast, and I won't have to contend with all of the leftovers. Yeah!

Amy
168/120/115 (been slacking...)