This holiday season enjoy your favorite holiday foods without worrying about the extra calories and fat! Try these tips to modify your family favorites. The best part is that you-or your family won’t be able to taste the difference.
Trim the Turkey
•Bake turkey on a rack inside your roasting pan so the fat can drip away (instead of soaking into the skin).
• Drain any excess fat before serving.
• Choose the white meat (breast) first, it has less saturated fat than dark meat (leg).
• Skimp on the skin to limit calories and fat.
Make Over the Mashed Potatoes
• Try mashing potatoes (skins included) with margarine and low-fat milk to reduce the fat.
• Slim down your gravy recipe by swapping turkey fat for low-fat broth.
• If you really want to be healthy skip the gravy altogether and top your potatoes with corn or peas.
• For a sweeter alternative, try baked (not candied) yams *my personal favorite*.
Go Light with the Green Bean Casserole
• Look for cream of mushroom soup that is low in sodium (Campbell’s taste great!).
• Use frozen green beans instead of canned to cut down on salt content.
• Top it off with toasted almonds, almonds are healthier and have fewer calories than the traditional fried onions.
No stuffing? No Chance!
• Substitute margarine for butter and low-fat chicken broth for chicken stock.
• Ditch the giblets and replace with lean meats.
• Cut fat content by cooking your stuffing in a casserole dish instead of inside your turkey.
Bake a Pumpkin Pie Not a Plumpkin Pie
• Pumpkin is a good choice but if you don’t like it try using sweet potatoes in its place.
• Leave out the whole milk and use evaporated milk instead.
• Use egg whites in place of whole eggs.
• Try a low-fat graham cracker crust instead of traditional pie crust.
• Top your pie with fat-free whipped cream instead of regular whipped cream.
More Tabletop Tips
Appetizers: Load up on veggies! Vegetable trays make for a nutritious and filling first course. Don’t overdo it with the dip (see sauces).
Condiments: Be careful of condiments! They add calories and fat to any meal. Cut down on butter, sour cream, brown sugar and other high-calorie toppings, if you have to have them then try and select the low-fat versions.
Sauces: Use sauces sparingly! Some meals just aren’t the same without them; try to “drizzle” your food with sauces instead of “drenching” it.
Desserts: I know, I know! You will have your desserts. Rather than eating a whole (average/big) slices of pie and cake go for smaller portions. You will satisfy your sweet tooth without increasing your waistline.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
