5 Healthy Choices for the Thanksgiving Meal That Are Low in Calories but Big on Taste

Did you know that after traveling over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house for the Thanksgiving meal, you are in danger of consuming about 4,500 calories? The Calorie Control Council further reveals that a traditional meal with all the fixings – as well as the pre-meal snacks and candies – might cause you to consume a staggering 229 grams of fat. The experts warn that you may actually eat enough fat to “equal three sticks of butter!” While you do not want to turn down grandma’s home-cooking, there are healthier choices.

Opt for the Turkey but Hold the Skin

If grandma goes all out and bakes a turkey as well as a ham, stick with the bird. Four ounces of roasted turkey – without the skin – have 190 calories and carry six grams of fat. (Just make sure you pick the breast meat and not the thighs.) Four ounces of baked ham, on the other hand, come with 21 grams of fat and have 345 calories.

Replace Ranch Dressing with Hummus

Daytime television favorite Oprah notes that one tablespoon of hummus – 15 grams – has 25 calories. Compare this to Ranch dressing, which clocks in with 145 calories per 30 gram serving. Bring an appetizer to the Thanksgiving meal that consists of numerous raw vegetables like celery and carrot sticks, bell peppers and green beans. As healthy Thanksgiving meal alternatives go, saving calories by staying away from calorie-laden dip can make a huge difference.

Stuffing is Evil (if you make it from scratch)

Oprah also warns Thanksgiving dieters away from homemade stuffing. Although turkey day is the time when we do not admit to using boxes for anything, she points out that stuffing from the box only has 107 calories per half cup. Compare this to the 300 calories of the homemade version.

Replace Candied Yams with Honey-glazed Sweet Potatoes

Would it really be a Thanksgiving dinner without candied yams? Unfortunately, those that come straight from the can have about 210 calories per half cup. When you add brown sugar and marshmallows, the count skyrockets. Yet Mayo Clinic dieticians offer a beacon of hope. Replace the canned candied yams with freshly cooked sweet potatoes that you glaze with a little brown sugar and honey. A serving of this delicious dish only has 146 calories and 42 mg of sodium. (Did I mention that the canned version has 240 mg of sodium per serving?)

Watch the Beverages, too!

There is the pre-dinner glass of wine, the dessert cranberry juice cocktail and the post-meal eggnog. Yikes! Eggnog alone has about 342 calories per cup. When you add alcohol, the Calorie Control folks warn that the number goes up to about 439 calories. If you want alcohol and light wine is available, stick with this beverage that only adds 102 calories to your consumption. In a pinch, grab a wine spritzer (91 calories) or a lite beer (101 calories).

Of course, no amount of Thanksgiving meal dish swapping will make an ounce of difference to your midsection if you stuff yourself. Portion control is still a must – even when the table is filled to brimming with delectable meal choices.