Okay, chickies...

I know Thanksigiving is on the mind of all the Beachies here in the States...and Christmas is coming up for all of us. What are you going to do to make the holidays healthy and stay successful on SBD in spite of all the temptations? Share with us and we'll share with you!

Okay,Thanksgiving!
I find knowing the menu ahead of time helps a lot. So does volunteering to bring the things that you know you'll want...in versions YOU can have! Sneaky, but it works! I often offer to bring the dessert...I make a Ginger Hazelnut Pumpkin Tart recipe from Cooking Light. I substitute Splenda for the sugar and make the crust out of frozen WW pie crust. I offer it with SF cool whip. That way I know I'll have dessert! I also make stuffing--I have several recipes) and bring at least one SBD-safe veggie dish, depending on what others are making. I also make sure that I eat my lunch and snacks that day so I'm not ravenous at dinnertime. This year, we're doing Thanksgiving at home, so there'll be a turkey breast (just two of us) and gravy (made with WW flour, but it'll be full of saturated fat...), plus tons of veggie dishes and a little starch, like stuffing or sweet potatoes. I found an interesting recipe for mashed sweet potatos with low fat cheddar in my Better Homes and Gardens mag.

Christmas
This depends totally on where we are--at my in-laws, dinner is much like Thanksgiving, so I follow the same general rules. At my parents, dinner is hors d'oeuvres, so I work with my mom to make sure there are SBD-safe alternatives, like Triscuits and other WW crackers, reduced fat cheeses, lots of veggies, lean meats, etc. I make hors d'oeuvres for our holiday open house as well, and if something works well, I let my Mom know so she can make it for our dinner, too. I make sure I have SF candy in my stocking so that when my family's noshing on their stocking candy, I have something for me. But I also emphasize putting things in stockings that aren't candy...like lotion, small gifts, lip gloss, etc. I make sure I eat my meals and snacks, even on Christmas Day.

Hannukah Last year, I made latkes from a mix of Sweet Potato and something else...parsnips? It didn't turn out too well. This year I'm going to try the recipe in the SBD holiday cookbook and see how that goes! I make sure we have lean meat and veggies too instead of just latkes, like when I was a kid.

What are YOU doing?

thanksgiving will be free-roaming turkey with stewed apples/prunes filling-lamb's lettuce salad w/walnuts and goat's cheese, bulgur with fennel as a possible side dish, home-made cranberry sauce w/splenda but was stuck about dessert...could you direct me towards that delish tarte recipe?
still undecided about xmas etc....

We just decided that we will do Thanksgiving at my parents house and we will do Christmas at ours...

so for Thanksgiving we will be bring a quorn roast(vegetarian turkey roast) ans I will also be requesting sweet potatoes, which they will probably be doing anyway- bring my own mushroom gravy and some type of sbd legal stuffing, I am thinking veggie sausage and mushroom. I will also be bringing a dessert, some kind of pumpkin pie- but probably without the crust~!

Christmas- well, thats still undecided- depends on who all is here We will probably make a turkey for the people who do eat meat here and then we will(OR just thought of this- go buy a honeybaked turkey or ham, much easier for me!lol and i don't have to touch the meat!) then make normal sides and some sbd legal sides, and all desserts will be lower fat/calories- except for the cookies, got to make those good

I'm going to try to legalize a barefoot contessa recipe (eep!) for SPinach Gratin and a legal apple crisp and make sure I eat all my meals and keep my portions small

Wherever I go, I make sure that I make 1 or 2 dishes myself. My parents usually have extremely healthy meals because my mom eats like a bird, but I make a couple dishes anyway just to help out, whether it be an appetizer, side, or dessert. When I go elsewhere, I definitely "offer" to make a few things so I can guarantee that at least 2 things are somewhat healthy and I can eat them.

When it comes to the rest, I just try to limit myself to very small portions but I still enjoy the things I like. I read in Women's Health Magazine that people who go into a holiday knowing that they're going to make a little "splurge" on that day are more likely to get back on track the following day, as opposed to the people that are determined to limit themselves and not give in, and then binge.

We're going to the out-laws house for turkey day....and now that I think about it, it won't be too difficult. They eat LOTS of veggies, and generally a ham or turkey. Their stuffing is nasty (it has oysters in it?!!?), so that's not a temptation. I'll probably let myself have a little bit of dessert.

Christmas? At home...I haven't thought about it yet. I'm going to have to watch your posts to help me out! Probably my typical southern dinner...sweet potatoes, greens, deviled eggs, and whatever meat the DH chooses.

We will stay in a hotel and bring some of our own foods to supplement meals. With DP being vegetarian and diabetic no one is offended when we turn something down.

My mom also really respects my success and tries hard to have foods we can eat. She won't let my Dad buy the things I would find really tempting like pastries from the real Italian bakery (can't get those here!).

Well my MIL is dieting also so I know that there will be something there. I am also setting my goal already for November to lose another 10 pounds. So I will just keep repeating my mantra.... Skinny taste better than anything that will be on that table. Honestly though i am not craving anything so far. My strategy will probably to bring some foods that I like and do some walking while I am there!

Menzy

honestly- calculating my goal seemed to make me realize how long or short of time this can take me- all depending on how much I want it... Now, seeing it in black and white I am more excited to do the "right" thing! Especially seeing how far I may be able to go by Christmas when all our family comes into town!!! Thanksgiving I think all I will splurge in is a spoonful or two of potatoes with mushroom gravy, however, that may be good enough over my mushroom stuffing! and I will definitely have a slice of pumpkin pie with real whipped cream! I make the BEST pumpkin pie(IMHO-lol) with molasses. yum.

If anyone else is interested I posted earlier today about the calculator
http://southbeachcenturyclub.com/goal.php

thanks rikki
I'm happy to have that calculator.
sophie

Janda, your menu sounds delish! I put a link to the tart recipe above. You can also find it in the the SBD Holiday Dessert Recipes--they're stickied in the South Beach Recipes forum. Is the Lamb's Lettuce otherwise known as Mache? That stuff is delish!

Great hints, friends! I look forward to reading more!