I have been cooking the traditional Thanksgiving Day meal for a number of years. This is the first time I will cook it on Thanksgiving while on plan.

I also make a similar meal for special days but usually I will make it with Turkey Breast instead of a whole turkey but I think that this has me practiced up.

In the old days I probably used a pound of butter or damn close to it in the preparation of everything.

The modifications.
No butter on the turkey. I put a little Olive Oil maybe 1-2 tablespoons tops.

Stuffing - a little Olive Oil (maybe 1 tablespoon) just to cook the veggies. If it needs more more I just use a little low sodium chicken broth. No butter. I add more veggies in this than I used to. I mostly add mushrooms, onions, and carrots but whatever you like this is only going to make it healthier. This was a big savings because there was probably a stick of butter in this.

Mashed potatoes - I know the white potatoes aren't great but it's a holiday so let's make them a little healthier by not putting so much butter. I use a ricer to get the consistency. Then just a little butter and low-fat milk.

If you can get away with mashed sweet potatoes instead that's probably better. I'll probably end up doing both.

Just those changes probably save 2-3 sticks of butter.

I know there is more to Thanksgiving than this but this is the basics.

Oh yeah send people home with leftovers!!!!

It always amazed me how many sticks of butter went into a Thanksgiving dinner.

I love to grind up some sage/garlic/a little chicken broth and rub it under the turkey skin. Amazing flavor, no fat or calories added to the meat. And putting it under the skin ensures it flavors the meat AND that the garlic doesn't burn during a long roasting time.

If anyone has any calorie saving ideas to share for a big dinner feel free to share. I really meant this as a start to thinking we can eat healthy or at least provide better choices to ourselves and our families even on the holidays.

I know that everyone has some family items that make the holiday but by some simple substitutions it doesn't have to be a deal breaker.

A few suggestions:

I've never buttered my turkey. I buy a kosher turkey as well, which means it hasn't been injected with butter and oil. AVOID at all costs Butterball brand turkeys if you don't want the additional calories. They inject their birds with butter flavored oil (among other things) to make them "juicy".

I ALWAYS brine my turkey overnight before cooking. Brining makes for such a moist turkey that I don't miss the butter at all. Just a light gloss of olive oil over the outside to help the skin crisp up and you're good to go. (Also I don't eat the skin at all - I leave it for my husband!)

I always try to make my stuffing equal parts veggies and bread (if not more veggies than bread). Onions, celery, mushrooms, and so forth to round it out. I saute the veggies in a mix of olive oil and butter, but for the "moistening" part, I use chicken broth entirely.

Mashed potatoes made with chicken broth and low-fat milk (or low fat sour cream) are yummy. If you really want a healthy mix, do half white potatoes and half cauliflower, mashed with chicken broth and low-fat milk. Anyone who wants to add a pat of butter at the table can do so, but the mix itself is pretty healthy.

I do both as well. Sweet potato casserole is a favorite in our family - sweet instead of savory. No way around this one for us - it contains brown sugar and is topped with marshmallows. So I just tough this one out, since my family would kill me if I didn't make it. I usually have a small scoop for dessert and just scrape off the marshmallows (which I don't really like anyway). I do make it a little healthier by adding fresh squeezed orange juice and orange pulp - which means you can cut down on the brown sugar a bit.

I also make homemade cranberry compote - also with cane sugar, but it's much healthier and better tasting than the stuff in the can. Just a bag of cranberries, some orange juice, some cane sugar, some ginger, and some water - cook it all together until the cranberries have popped and it's thick and dark red. You can also add nuts if you want (walnuts or pecans) for texture.

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There are plenty of healthy main meal Turkey Day options. Of course the butterless turkey breast being one of them.

The real "diet" killer for me is - Pecan Pie. A tradition in my family. The only way that I know how to make that less caloric, is to not make it at all. Wonder if I can get away with that? Of course there's always the "make it and don't touch it option" or the "make it and take a sliver option". The later never, ever works for me . Hmmm, we'll have to see as we get closer to "T' day.

Rockin'Robin - Hey - just had a brainstorm on that pecan pie issue - how about making mini pies with small tart tins? I seem to remember a pan that had like a half-dozen depressions in it (kinda like a flattened out cupcake tin)...would that work? Don't know of any light versions of pecan pie, or even pie crust recipes...good luck with your search!

Or you can STOP your cryin' about that When Harry Met Sally PEE-CON PIE grab those girls and get in our TURKEY TROT 5K burn off those calories then have a "regular" slice of PEE-CON PIE ....

just a little thought...

That's a great idea! Funny, because I've done this many times with many desserts. I even purchased a set of "ramekins". They're individual ceramic baking dishes. But I have seen individual pie shells as well. Which is great for everyone. No going back for seconds - or thirds .


Thanks for the personal invite Gary. I just may take you up on it! But still not sure if I really want a "regular" slice of pie.

I just may use judipurple's idea and make enough individual pies for everyone BUT me. This way I remain "safe". That's one way I've used the ramekins in the past, although I've also used it so that I could have just one. I also like it because then there's no leftovers in the house. Which is a very good thing.

I know I plan to do *some* indulging/splurging on Thanksgiving Day, but I'm just not sure yet on what it will be.

those cranberry things sound DELICIOUS! the sweet potatoes this year i'm going to try to make a little batch for me and maybe my sister (she keeps complaining about her weight so i'm going to let her borrow my WW book and read up on it and see if it's something she might want to do, and if it is then she can eat my potatoes) using Splenda Brown Sugar since my neighbor gave me some the other day

now where in the world do you find a kosher turkey? and what do you do to brine a turkey? i'm going to try to get my mom to make a semi-healthy thanksgiving meal this year and would love some turkey tips

I get my kosher turkeys at Whole Foods - they always have a pre-order thing going about 2 weeks before T'giving and Xmas. They're more expensive than the grocery store ones, I have to warn you, but soooooo worth it.

If you don't have a Whole Foods type of store, look in the phonebook for a butcher and just call and ask them.

To brine a turkey, we use the Alton Brown method.

* 1 cup kosher salt
* 1/2 cup light brown sugar
* 1 gallon vegetable stock
* 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
* 1/2 tablespoon allspice berries
* 1 gallon iced water

Combine all brine ingredients except ice water in a stockpot, and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve solids, then remove from heat and cool. [note: I throw some ice cubes in mine to cool it quickly]

Early on the day of cooking, (or late the night before) combine the brine and ice water in a clean 5-gallon bucket. Place thawed turkey breast side down in brine, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area (like a basement) for 6 hours. Turn turkey over once, half way through brining.

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We have one of those outside deep fryers so we use that instead of a bucket. Put the turkey in the brine, cover with water, add some extra ice, and set it on the floor in the kitchen, covered. It stays icy cold even overnight. Then the next morning, take it out of the brine, rinse it, and cook as usual.

The first time we did this, it was a revelation. I've brined my turkeys ever since.

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Pecan pie, 1/8 slice of a 9" pie: 456 calories.



I think I'd skip that.

Pecan pie, small tart: 245 calories.

Hmmm... More like it...

Jay

thanks!! i'm going to see if i can do that this year for her because i know she won't take the time to.

and my roommate made a brined turkey last year and it was GREAT! but i don't live with him anymore lol

Yeah, that's the thing. I really think I can spend my calories better elsewhere. That ASTRONOMICAL calorie count is just not worth it. Pecan Pie is one of the most caloric foods we can eat. Even apple pie is better at about 296 cals, pumpkin pie - 323 cals. One chocolate chip cookie - 75 cals. A 2" brownie - 170 calories.

Better yet....one pecan is only 6.5 calories...

I'm pushing it here now aren't I?

I was kidding....kidding....

Oh yesssireeebob. That would DEFINITELY be pushing it. But ya know what? I'll keep it in mind!!!

Great avatar by the way.