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Lower-calorie options for traditional Thanksgiving dishes

information provided by Franciscan Health

MUNSTER, Ind. (November 19, 2018) – Here are nine no-stress tips from a Franciscan Health registered dietitian on how to whittle down calories without skimping on taste this Thanksgiving season:

  • Baste your turkey with white wine or low-sodium broth instead of butter to save on fat calories.
  • Before you add your pan juices to your gravy, skim the fat, and you’ll cut calories without flavor.
  • Swap low-sodium chicken broth for most of the butter in your stuffing. Saves at least 50 calories per serving and cuts the fat in half.
  • Sneak more vegetables in your stuffing. Onions, carrots, mushrooms and celery are all tasty additions.
  • Instead of traditional green bean casserole, give steamed green beans a chance. Toss them with a little olive oil and/or lemon if you desire.
  • Make Mom’s casserole with low-sodium or reduced-fat varieties of cream of mushroom (or cream of celery) soup. For each can of condensed soup, you’ll save 120 calories and 16 grams of fat by going with reduced-fat version.
  • Instead of high-fat croissants or biscuits, choose mini whole-grain rolls from your local bakery to increase your fiber intake.
  • Aim for fruit-based pies such as apple or pumpkin, since they don’t have a top crust. A typical slice of pie can pack in as many as 400 calories, so portion size and moderation are key!
  • If making candied sweet potatoes, cut the sugar in half, use a low-calorie sweetener instead or reduce the quantity of marshmallows used.

Most of all, don’t beat yourself up or go overboard on restrictions–enjoy the day and eat mindfully.

 

The Lansing Journal
The Lansing Journalhttps://thelansingjournal.com
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