Strategy, now that's a word to think about....

Don’t starve

Arriving at the party famished could lead to overdoing it, so eat a healthy meal or snack beforehand, leaving just enough room (and PP values) for a few small treats.

Drink!

But make it water or other low-calorie beverage – you’ll slow down your eating and help fill yourself up. And limit your alcohol intake – it’s not only a major source of calories and PP values, it can weaken your ability to stick to your eating plan.

Know what you eat

Just because it’s the holidays, don’t forget all the weight- management skills you’ve acquired.  Even if you choose to indulge, keep journaling.  By writing down what you’re eating you’re less apt to eat mindlessly.

Don’t deprive yourself

But do limit your portions. By eating small portions of only things you really want you’ll enjoy the specialties while staying on track.

Set priorities

Rate each dish on offer from 1 to10, with “10” being the best choices for you and “1” being foods you know you should limit or avoid.  Fill your plate with the high numbers and only try a minimal amount (or none!) of the others.

Move!

Reduce sedentary behavior like surfing the net and watching TV; work in some minutes several times in the day. It will help in your weight-loss efforts or allow you to eat a bit more without guilt.

Be realistic

Losing weight during the holiday season might not be the most practical objective for you right now.  Allow your goal during the holidays to be maintaining your weight, not weight loss. Then, once the holidays are over you can get right back to losing.

Healthy holiday cooking

With a few smart, common-sense changes in food preparation and eating habits, you will save calories and PP values without losing the flavor.  

Here are some suggestions:

INSTEAD OF Dark meat turkey

CHOOSE White meat turkey with skin removed

INSTEAD OF Making stuffing with turkey drippings

CHOOSE Stuffing made with a fat-free broth

INSTEAD OF Preparing mashed potatoes with butter and milk

CHOOSE  Mashed potatoes with broth and fat-free or 1% milk with some jarred horseradish or mustard for added flavor

INSTEAD OF Following a traditional green bean casserole recipe

CHOOSE Making it with low-fat soup and breadcrumbs, or better yet, mix your steamed beans with some homemade low fat tomato and onion relish

INSTEAD OF Candied sweet potatoes

CHOOSE Baked sweet potatoes with light butter

INSTEAD OF Regular dressing on your salad

CHOOSE Light or fat-free dressing

INSTEAD OF Bringing another pie

CHOOSE A beautiful floral display

INSTEAD OF Using pan drippings in your gravy

CHOOSE Fat-free broth or bouillon

INSTEAD OF Double-crusted fruit pie

CHOOSE One-crust pumpkin pie - or see the crust less pumpkin pie recipe at the bottom of the blog!

INSTEAD OF Mixed drinks or heavy ales

CHOOSE Wine or spritzers

INSTEAD OF Butter or oil in baking

CHOOSE Sugar-free apple sauce

Black November

 A Turkey's Lament
 When I was a young turkey, new to the coop,
 My big brother Mike took me out on the stoop,
 Then he sat me down, and he spoke real slow,
 And he told me there was something that I had to know;
 
His look and his tone I will always remember,
 When he told me of the horrors of ..... Black November;
 "Come about August, now listen to me,
 Each day you'll be thick, where once you were thin,
 And you'll grow a big rubbery thing under your chin.
 "And then one morning, when you're warm in your bed,
 In'll burst the farmer's wife, and hack off your head;
 "Then she'll pluck out all your feathers so you're bald'n pink,
 And scoop out all your insides and leave ya lyin' in the sink,
 "And then comes the worst part" he said not bluffing,
 "She'll spread your cheeks and pack your rear with stuffing".

 Well, the rest of his words were too grim to repeat,
 I sat on the stoop like a winged piece of meat,
 And decided on the spot that to avoid being cooked,
 I'd have to lay low and remain overlooked;
 I began a new diet of nuts and granola,
 High-roughage salads, juice and diet cola,
 And as they ate pastries, chocolates and crepes,
 I stayed in my room doing Jane Fonda tapes,
 I maintained my weight of two pounds and a half,
 And tried not to notice when the bigger birds laughed;

 But 'twas I who was laughing, under my breath,
 As they chomped and they chewed, ever closer to death;
 And sure enough when Black November rolled around,
 I was the last turkey left in the entire compound;
 
So now I'm a pet in the farmer's wife's lap;
 I haven't a worry, so I eat and I nap,
 She held me today, while sewing and humming,
 And smiled at me and said "Christmas is coming........"

Member's Favorite CRUST LESS PUMPKIN PIE!

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated skim milk
3/4 cup egg substitute
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice to your taste
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup splenda sugar substitute

Directions:
1    Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth.
2    Pour into 9-inch pie pan sprayed with cooking spray.
3    Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes; reduce temperature to
      325 degrees F and bake for 45 minutes more.
4    Pie is done when knife inserted into center comes out clean.

5    Sprinkle the top with a little cinnamon or cinnamon and
      confectioners sugar.

Serves 8          3 PPV per serving

All that remains is for me to wish you a very heartfelt 

Happy Thanksgiving.  

I want you to know that I am always thankful for you, my amazing and inspiring group of members. 

See you back in the meeting with all your confidence in tow!