Have a Healthy Thanksgiving!

Pic via kaboose.com

Thanksgiving is a time for family, football, pumpkin pie, and putting on a few extra pounds in one sitting. This Thanksgiving, you can leave the extra weight on the buffet table instead of your hips with a few easy swaps and a little portion control.

Here are a few healthier alternatives to traditional high-calorie Thanksgiving dishes:

1. Mashed potatoes:

• Garlic Sweet Potato Mash: Although white potatoes and sweet potatoes have about the same amount of calories, sweet potatoes have 1 extra gram of fiber, Vitamin C, and 384% of your daily recommended dose of Vitamin A per serving. Vitamin A is essential for supporting eye health and the immune system, and can give your complexion a beautiful glow.
• Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes": This recipe has 80 calories and 8 grams of protein in one cup!
• Garlic Roasted Cauliflower with Toasted Asiago Breadcrumbs: If you don't want to skimp on any flavor, this is the dish for you (and it's only 130 calories per serving!). I made it with steaks for the boyfriend a few days ago, and he loved it! I'll definitely be making this dish again.

Balsamic roasted green beans and mushrooms. MMMM!

2. Green Bean Casserole:

• This Healthy Green Bean Casserole uses nonfat milk and whole wheat bread crumbs, cutting each serving down to 125 calories.
• Green Beans with Pecans and Maple Vinaigrette: The maple syrup in this recipe adds a very fall-ish flavor to the green beans, and it only takes 20 minutes to make!
• Roasted Green Beans with Mushrooms, Balsamic, and Parmesan: Roasting the mushrooms and green beans enhances the flavor :)

3. Pecan Pie:

• Pumpkin pie is a much lighter choice, especially when made with graham cracker crust.
• Gluten-free, no sugar added pecan pie
• Try a healthy vegan Pecan Pie Smoothie!

4. Stuffing/Dressing:

• Try this healthy Stuffing with Cranberries recipe form the Mayo Clinic. It's 147 calories per serving, and has a fraction of the fat, calories, and sodium that boxed stuffings contain.

A few more tips for keeping the pounds off:

• My biggest downfall isn't the meal itself, but all the delicious appetizers family members bring. Try limiting yourself to three or four items, and only eating from a small plate. If you want to go reload, put the food on the plate first. It will help you be more conscious of what you're eating and how man times you've gone back for more.
• Don't hang out in the kitchen. My family seems to be drawn to the kitchen like moths to a flame, but if I can put distance between myself and the serving table, I have more self-control over going back for more.
• Go for the items with the least amount of ingredients. Chances are, they're healthier because they aren't loaded with extra sugar, fat, carbs, or preservatives. My family always has a fruit plate and bowl of raw veggies and dip for appetizers. It's easy and delicious, and you know what you're eating.
• Limit calorie intake a couple days before and after, so you have a little bit of wiggle room on Thanksgiving. Now, it's important that you don't starve yourself (you don't want to scare your body into storing ALL of your feast), just try to cut 300-500 calories from your daily recommended caloric intake.
• Don't forget to exercise! Even if you have to get up a little earlier in the morning, go for a run, or even better, do some kind of weight training. Stressing your muscles will increase your metabolism all day long.
• Pick just one dessert, and ask for a small piece. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

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