A Low Cal Thanksgiving

Is it possible to lose weight on Thanksgiving? Surprisingly yes! If you cook lighter variations of the holiday plates, you can actually shed a pound or two. It's creating tasty dishes without the excess.

Turkey in itself , is a low calorie meat.Three ounces of boneless skinless white meat is only ninety calories and ten calories of fat. A drumstick with the skin is 285 calories.,If you're a big lover of the crackly skin you may want to just have the wing. It's 229 calories , a little less than the legs. Many people love the skin part and don't want to give it up. If that's the case, go easy with the sides and desserts.f you opt for just the white meat consider making it tastier along with moistening it with gravy. One quarter of a cup of  homemade gravy is only 64 calories.  What compliments the meat and gravy? Stuffing, of course Is it possible to make one that's lighter? It can be.  Instead of bread use bread crumbs mixed with that healthy whole food  mushrooms. You can also sub in toasted  low calorie bread cubes too. These can be nicely paired with apple slices for a unique sweet take. Think about a stuffing made with breadsticks or pretzels sticks. Kids will get a kick out of the last. The pretzels do have to be soaked in a bowl of hot water for five to seven minutes to soften them. You could also try farro which is a wheat grain too.Cook it with caramelized onions and porcini mushrooms.

Those tasty sides can also be made without all that fat and richness. The classic green bean casserole is 160 calories . That's not too bad. however ,a cup of steamed is only 44 calories. They can be steamed with lemon and ginger for a zesty tangy side. They can also be steamed with red and yellow pepper strips and sliced carrots for a colorful  and healthy dish.Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving must. Bake them with marshmallows along with brown sugar and you're looking at  120 calories. That's fine if you only have one serving but most people have two at least. A better alternative is roasted, which are only 68 calories. Serve with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. What about mashed sweet potatoes? They share almost the same amount of calories as the candied ones.  The biggest fat bomb is mashed potatoes. One serving is a whopping 400 calories! Can they be made with less calories? Yes. It's just a matter of using skim milk for whole and a butter substitute like Smart Balance or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. If you feel like it's still lacking in flavor then add chives. Thye not only add color but also some flavor. You could also add garlic too if you want' some oomph along with fat free sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. Mashed cauliflower, an Obama favorite is another alternative.It's only 100 calories per serving. Make it with buttermilk and garlic for a flavorful side.

Thanksgiving can be a time for low calorie eating and losing weight.It's just a matter of smart choices and equally as smart cooking. The meal will be healthy but still tasty, the perfect holiday feast.

Your Holiday Cooking Guide

Hard to believe we're entering the start of the holiday cooking season.It's a time when even the most experienced home chefs panic. Don't. There's a guide to help you navigate any big meal fromThanksgiving to Christmas, from New Year's to just a big Sunday dinner with family and friends.

The New York Times put out this special guide in their Wednesday paper today. It's separate from the  Food section but it has some of the best recipes from the Times recipe book plus a day to day guide on getting ready. It is a four-page fold out and the recipes can be cut out if need be. To be honest you'll want to keep this intact.it is very handy.It features the classic turkey, sides, and pies.What I like is the timeline in which to prepare. It makes planning for Thanksgiving a dream and can be altered to fit any prep time before a big meal. It starts with making a guest list which will give an idea of how big a bird to buy.A second and definite must do is deciding whether to have a sit-down dinner or buffet., depending on the number of guests.One of the smartest suggestions is taking stock of kitchenware along with the oven. Are there enough pots and pans for the sides? Is the oven big enough for the bird you want? You may have to get two turkeys or have a diner roast your bird. Two weeks before , check t see if you need tablecloths . extra glasses or even a gravy boat. Also The Times recommends writing up two shopping lists; one for perishable goods and one for non perishables. A week before it's time to make the pie crusts and cranberry sauce along with cleaning out the fridge and freezer to make room.

The recipes come from the best. Julia Moskin, Melissa Clark, Sam Sifton and Kim Severson have contributed as well as the famed Craig Claiborne and Pierre Franey. Emily Weinstein and  Amanda Hesser have also given recipes as well. Kim Severson gives us a dry brined turkey that's punched up with white wine.Gravy is a must and Sam Sifton has a good one.It too has a half cup of white wine along with the turkey fat, flourn and turkey or chicken stock.Of course, there has to be stuffing, also coming from Mr. Sifton.It has apples and chestnuts along with a cornucopia of herbs and spices. A dash of hot sauce is added for kick. Every holiday meal needs sides and there are some tasty ones here. Guests and family will flip over the Hassselback potatoes made rich with both Gruyere and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Even the most adamant Brussels sprout haters will think twice about them being served with heavenly pancetta.Thanksgiving is all about the dessert and there are three good recipes to choose from (Or you can make all three).Melissa Clark gives us her double apple pie which is not only spiced with cinnamon but with ginger and nutmeg.She also has a brandied pumpkin pie given a kick with the liqueur and enriched with whole cream and three eggs. There is also Craig Claiborne's cheesecake, a great ending to any meal.

Thanksgiving and any holiday meal should not be a time for panic or fear. Follow The New York Times guide and recipes and watch the big day breeze by.it'll be not only a time of giving Thanks but also for good eating!

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