Aieeee Thanksgiving feast!
 

So, I'm going to my dad's for Thanksgiving. He's in the process of remodeling his kitchen and has no means to cook in it (I think he said the burners are working, but that's it). Challenge! And he made Thanksgiving dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant.

Now, I want to enjoy the food. I want to be semi-reasonable. I don't want to be hungry. But the menu, oy! Here's what I have to choose from....

• Fall Greens with Candied Walnuts, Pear & Gorgonzola Vinaigrette
• Salad of Duck Confit with Hazelnuts & Barley
• Radicchio, Pear & Fennel Salad with Minted Orange Vinaigrette
• Fall Apple "Waldorf" with Grapes Orange Segments and Cider Dressing
• New Potato Salad with Smoked Bacon and Egg
• Orzo Salad with Fresh Herbs, Calamata Olives & Roasted Peppers
• Assorted Autumn Antipasto
• Poached Salmon & Smoked Salmon Array
• Steamed Shrimp with Horseradish-Tomato Sauce
• Cornbread Stuffing
• Yukon mashed Potatoes
• Maple Whipped Yams with Pecans
• Glazed Baby Carrots & Spiced Spaghetti Squash
• Citrus Cranberry Relish
• Oven Roasted Chicken Roulade with Creamy Leek & Parsley Sauce
• Salmon & Wild Mushroom Encroute, Lobster Sauce, Caviar
• Roasted Leg of Domestic Lamb, Sage & Juniper Berry Demiglace
• Carved Apple & Fennel Roasted Turkey, Giblet Gravy
• Hand Carved Clove Studded Virginia Ham
• Orange and Spice Cheesecake with Hazelnut Anglaise
• Chocolate Fondue
• Bohemian Pumpkin Pie
• Apple & Currant Crisp with Streusel Topping
• Bourbon Pecan Tarte
• Assorted Autumn Cookies

I think it's a buffet too. Hrm.

Right now I'm leaning toward some of these:

• Radicchio, Pear & Fennel Salad with Minted Orange Vinaigrette
• Steamed Shrimp with Horseradish-Tomato Sauce
• Cornbread Stuffing
• Yukon mashed Potatoes
• Glazed Baby Carrots & Spiced Spaghetti Squash
• Carved Apple & Fennel Roasted Turkey, Giblet Gravy
• Bohemian Pumpkin Pie

Damn that looks tough! The orzo salad with fresh herbs etc. looks good too. I'm sure no matter what you choose all of these items are prepared 'full fat'... mostly why I'm sure it all tastes so good! I think the trick is going to be moderation. Just be conscious with serving sizes...if its buffet avoid seconds! If it were me that is what I would do, along with drinking plenty of water, eating slowly so that I could sense when I was getting full, limiting any alcohol (like wine) to maybe 1 glass if any. If I were going to go for desert too I would try to share/split it with someone if possible.
Enjoy it, but be conscious with it. It also might help to try to get out in the morning and get a little extra exercise in before you go there. Maybe a quick walk/jog etc to burn some extra calories.
Good Luck!

I say, just enjoy the day and eat until you are no longer hungry. Eat what you want but dont eat til you are sick. Thanksgiving only comes once a year. THis is a lifestyle "diet", so one meal is not going to make or break your ultimate success. If you dont eat what you want, you might end up feeling bitter and cheated, which for me, is more dangerous than one planned splurge meal.

Wow, I think I gained a few pounds just reading the menu! At least it will be really good calories, as opposed to Twinkies. Buffets are really hard for me. I plan to make two trips to the line, first for a heaping plate of salad and veggies. By the time I've finished with that, I am too full to eat just to be eating, so make much better choices my second time up, and at most I would want to taste the one dessert that's gotten the most raves from my companions.

Good luck! It's nice of your dad to treat you to such a fabulous meal.

judy

:fr: That sounds wonderful!

I would definitely tend to just enjoy the evening and eat what I wanted, and then jump back on the horse the next day with a little extra effort thrown in for good measure. Like Stacy said, it only comes once a year!

HOWEVER.....I'm horribly off plan at the moment, and have been pretty much for the whole past year...so what do I know :lol:

:hug:
Enjoy your special night!
Linda

I say do your best to watch what you eat, but don't beat yourself up if you feel like you've lost control. I like your choices as long as you practice moderation and I'd even pick the Fall Apple "Waldorf" with Grapes Orange Segments and Cider Dressing - with Cider Dressing on the side and maybe even a small slice of the Virginia Ham.

Have fun!