Are you gathering ideas for your Thanksgiving feast? Are you like me and pretty much prefer the side dishes as opposed to the turkey? Well, do I ever have some good suggestions to whet your appetite.
Who doesn’t look forward to the bounty of a Thanksgiving dinner? We love gathering with family and friends, celebrating good news, honoring traditions and breaking bread together.
The problem? “The average American will consume a hefty 3,000 calories on Thanksgiving — for dinner alone. (That’s 1,000 more than the average woman needs in a day!) Drinks, dessert and appetizers can bring the total calorie count to 4,500, according to the Calorie Control Council. (https://caloriecontrol.org/stuff-the-bird-not-yourself-how-to-deal-with-the-3000-calorie-thanksgiving-meal/)
You can still enjoy some of those favorites and still watch your calorie intake. Start by reducing the amount of salt, sugar and oil. Not every dish needs to be loaded with butter and sugar. The Calorie Control council suggests trying these “Low-Fat Holiday” tips from the American Heart Association:
• Eat lower-fat and reduced-calorie foods for days in advance of the holiday feast, and for days after.
• Prepare for handling your worst temptations; if you want both pecan and pumpkin pie, take a tiny slice of each, instead of a full serving.
• If cooking, provide low-fat foods, or ask if you can bring a low-fat dish.
• After the meal, start a tradition — a holiday walk, for instance.
How about these Roasted Mixed Vegetables instead of that calorie-laden, marshmallowy gooey sweet potato casserole? (Do Not Send Hate Letters, y’all. Be Nice!). Aren’t they pretty? And they’re mighty easy and tasty, too.
This dish was featured on last year’s THV11 Thanksgiving segment.
Roasted Pear Autumnal Salad with Maple Vinaigrette. This salad is a real favorite at our house. Everything about it says Fall to me. Don’t you think it would be pretty on your Thanksgiving table?
Another favorite salad is this Brown Rice and Kale Salad I created for Riceland. It gets a unique taste from the Sorghum Vinaigrette that dresses it. By the way, sorghum is not the same thing as molasses. For a good explanation of the difference and to learn just how we celebrate National Sorghum Month in Arkansas, check out this feature I wrote for First Security’s Only In Ark web site.
I know. You (or members of your family) just must have a sweet potato casserole on the menu, right. This version, Not Your Momma’s Sweet Potato Casserole, is much more to my liking but even then, I cut the amount of sugar and butter from the original recipe. If you’ve ever had sweet potato casserole at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, then this is as close as you can get to that. I make it in individual ramekins as shown and freeze those that I’m not using immediately.
Are you looking for something in addition to or to replace the dressing (It’s dressing, not stuffing, around these parts, y’all.)? I think you’d really enjoy this Rice ‘N Easy Saffron and Pomegranate Rice dish I created for a Riceland sponsored post. Not only is it pretty to look at, its flavors are bright with just a hint of tartness. It’s a really nice change of pace from some of your traditional sides.
Remember, you can lighten your holiday feasting and still have an enjoyable time. For more information about the average calorie counts of some holiday favorites, check out this table from the CCC. HERE
I’m not suggesting you do a clean sweep of your Thanksgiving favorites. Your friends and family would probably rebel, but you can start by substituting a healthier, lower calorie and lower fat recipe for one you might otherwise include. Just 1. That’s a start.
Happy Thanksgiving, y’all.
