The Thanksgiving holiday is probably the most famous holiday when it comes to food. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes... you get the picture. It's also a meal that is often loaded with calories and saturated fats that can wreak havoc on your waistline.
However, by making a few simple changes to your favorite dishes you can save calories and pounds without sacrificing taste.
The Turkey
The center piece of the meal, often considered a healthy choice because it's poultry, is often swimming in calories because of how it is prepared. Many holiday cooks coat the turkey in mayonaise for taste and a crispy outside. Instead of adding empty calories through mayo, try more natural flavors from this recipe.
Ingredients
- 12 lb. turkey
- 1 orange
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp rosemary
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp sage
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse turkey and pat dry.
- Slice the orange in half, and stuff inside the bird.
- In a small bowl, combine oil and seasonings. Rub the mixture under the skin and on top of the breast. Rub any remaining over the entire turkey.
- Roast at 400 degrees for 30 minutes; reduce over temperature to 325 degrees and continue to cook the bird until an internal temperature of 165 degrees is reached for the breast, or 180 for the leg. Serves 15.
Stuffing
Another Turkey Day favorite, often laden with butter. By replacing with olive oil and some dried fruit, this stuffing will make your guests mouths water.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces olive oil
- 2 onions, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 2 cups day old bread, cubed
- 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1 cup prunes, chopped
- 2 cups sweet red wine
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp all spice ground
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Directions
- Heat oil in a large pan. Add celery and onions, saute until the onion starts to become translucent.
- Add the dried fruit and wine. Let wine reduce for a few minutes.
- Add cubed bread and spices and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Put into an over proof dish and cover with foil. Bake covered for 20 minutes. Uncover, bake an additional 15 minutes. Serves 4.
Vegetables
Yes, even veggies can be unhealthy if prepared with butter or cheese sauces. However, with these tasty sauteed green beans, guests can have seconds, without having to unbutton their pants at the table.
Zesty Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds grean beans, trimmed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced shallots
- 1 lemon, zested
- Black pepper
Directions
- Simmer green beans in a large saucepan for 3 minutes until crisp-tender.
- Remove from heat, drain. Plunge beans into ice cold water to retain color, but stop them from cooking further.
- Heat oil in a skillet. Add garlic and shallots, saute for 1 minute. Add green beans and saute for 3 more minutes. Stir in lemon zest. Top with black pepper to taste. Serves 6-8.
Kristen Putch - Marley has been a freelance writer since 2006, covering travel, food, health, fitness and women's issues for a variety of publications. ...
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