It's snuck up on me--it'll be this Sunday.

I'm not sure, exactly, what to do. I'm in charge of the menu and though the food we "tradtionally" make is healthy--it does have little touches which make it "special." (Like tablespoons of honey, and butter, pecans, that sort of thing), the luxurious pumpkin pie, etc.

I do not want to "take away" these special dishes from the rest of the family to suit MY dietary needs--and besides, I like these twice a year dishes, as well. I'm thinking that perhaps I could go off my rather rigid exchange plan for the day and simply do what most of you do and count up the calories and let myself prioritize accordingly. I'll have to think about it.

But, let's talk.....
Are you guest or host?
What will you do?

Luckily my parents are in Florida this Thanksgiving, so we won't have the usual dinner!

I looove stuffing though! And gravy! *drool*

When I started my plan...I promised that I wouldn't change the way that I eat on holidays or on Vacation. My thought is...what's the worst thing that can happen if you splurge on one day? I feel like I would just be deprived and sad if I didn't have what I wanted on holidays. With that being said...since I've started my new plan I am sure that I will WANT to eat less. And just because I splurged on that day...doesn't mean that the next day I need to eat leftovers or say the whole week is ruined.
It's definitely a personal choice...if you're an all or nothing kind of person...it might be better for you to make sure you make yourself a different meal or create some new traditions for your family to eat on Thanksgiving.
Bottom line though...even though this answer might be unpopular on here, I say go for it. Don't build resentment toward your new lifestyle...have some wiggle room. For me...it's something to look forward to that actually KEEPS me on plan...let it be something motivational for you.

I agree... we should be allowed little treats now and then!!! I fully intend to eat pie and drink wine at Christmas!

I will probably host Thanksgiving this year (in the US). I plan to eat a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, complete with mashed potatoes and gravy. What I *won't* do is eat till I'm sick and stuffed, which is what I normally do. So I'm going kind of middle of the road on it. I will have pie; but I'll have one slice of pie, not 2 or 3. I'll have stuffing and turkey, but I'll be lighter on the stuffing and heavier on the turkey. Things like that.

I'm trying to come up with a sensible plan for life. My thought is that I will do my best to make sensible, healthy choices for the majority of my life, and if I do that, a plate of potatoes and gravy once or twice a year will be a non-event as far as weight goes. I didn't get fat from eating one Thanksgiving dinner; I got fat by stuffing myself silly on crap at every opportunity. So that's how I plan to approach it--have a nice holiday dinner, eat reasonable portions, and go right back to normal the next day.

Windchime, you are a sensible woman!

Thanks everyone. My husband loves the pumpkin pie I make: I wonder if we'll notice if I use low fat cream cheese instead of full in the filling?

We don't actually have mashed potatos and gravy! Funny, that. No, I make a dish called sweet potato and carrot crisp, a corn and bean salad, crockpot stuffing and turkey. Buns, pickles and sliced tomatoes. Dessert is simply a decadenty pumpkin pie and whipped cream. And a few cookies if I can persuade my Mom to bring some.

Turkey is a nice low fat meat to have as leftovers. I've already got a Turkey soup planned and a lean (crustless) Turkey Pot Pie. (Biscuit topping).

Sorry. I should have put a food porn warning on this post!

Move along, move along...nothing to see here....

Mmmmmmm. That all sounds so good Alana. I don't have to worry about Thanksgiving this year. I will be here in the US for Canadian Thanksgiving, and in Canada for US Thanksgiving. That will make it easier to stay on plan. My boyfriend is being very supportive, and is willing to eat healthier while I'm here.

Turkey is not bad, mashed potatoes can be made with skim milk and skip the butter, canned or packet gravy is low cal, although a lot of salt, veggies are ok as long as they are not smothered in cheese.

As far as pie, their are great recipes for less fattening pumpkin pie, and if you don't tell, most won't even notice. WE even figured out how to make my sisters peanut butter pie more healthy, and it's still to die for.

As far as our family goes, we've been trying very hard the last few years to make the desserts better. We're doing well with portion control, and we go for a walk later and string all of Gramma's outside Christmas lights, climbing the big pine trees and all.

The 2 things none of us will give up are, Gramma's home made rolls and her pecan pie. I know, the pecan pie will turn your blood to sludge with all the sugar, but we compromised on smaller servings. She's 93! OMG! and the recipe for the pie will most likely go with her, as it's not written down anywhere.

One day off plan is one day. Not the end of the world. Portion control, an extra 20 minute walk and just enjoy the family!

Forgot to add my sisters recipe for corn.

2 cans of corn drained and 1 packet of fat free cream cheese, toss in the oven, crock pot or pan, and stir until all mixed and smooth. Yummy!

I'm living abroad, but am still hosting a get together this weekend. No turkey unfortunately. I am one of those people who doesn't react well to the feeling of being restricted. So I am going to try to eat sensibly, but partake of the goodies. The real question is can I get right back on the wagon the next day? How do you girls manage to only make it only a one day thing?

I'm going to eat everything, within' moderation. (Except turkey, I'm bringing a seitan stuffed 'turkey' with me) if I ate anything less than everything, (in moderation) my mom would have a fit.

I am guest.

:P

I allow myself a very little bit of my favourite foods. Lots of salad and TONS of white meat turkey. But I do work in my fav's within reason and just count up the calories.

I'm a guest at TWO thanksgiving dinners this year!

I am both hosting and being a guest, not sure if that makes sense! I will be helping with dinner at my grandma and aunt's place, but am technically a guest also.. Also on that day is my great uncle's birthday - which means cake for lunch! Yikes! Not too sure how I'm going to deal with it all - the cake is a non-issue since I don't like cake (whats wrong with me?!?). It's the homemade perogies, two types of stuffing and the mashed potatoes - with 3% milk! I will likely go off plan, and then pick right back up afterwards.

-Aimee

Here's my thought on holidays: Have the special foods, but eat everyday sized portions. The problem with holiday meals is more about the snacking all day ahead of time, the mounding of the plate at mealtime, the seconds/thirds/fourths, the eating of more than one dessert because there is more than one kind offered, the sneaking into the kitchen late at night to have just one more "bite", and the leftovers that keep you eating at that level for days.

If you treat the rest of the day like an on plan day, eat reasonable portions of the special foods at the meal, avoid seconds, have a small taste of dessert, don't snack on food after the meal, send the leftovers home with everyone else, and get right back on the diet horse the next day, then the fun of your holiday is going to far outpace any damage you might have done to your weight loss efforts.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving! I'm looking forward to ours. It's my favorite meal of the year...