Keep Your Thanksgiving Healthy & Happy!

Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving 

Here are a few tips to make sure you are able to relax and enjoy a healthy Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and family!

1. Eat breakfast. Skipping a meal because you want to save your calories can lead to a food binge.
2. Maintain your food journal. This will help you to monitor how much you are eating.
3. Make sure to get enough sleep the night before. You don’t want to be around a table full of food when you’re tired and have decreased control. Lack of sleep can also increase appetite.
4. Drink plenty of water. Being dehydrated can be confused with hunger.
5. When appetizers are out make sure to only grab a small amount and walk away. You still have the big dinner ahead.
6. Use a smaller plate.
7. Watch out for hidden calories. Dishes like green bean casserole and creamed corn may appear healthy, but in reality they are high-calorie options due to the cream bases and added toppings.
8. Chew slowly. Enjoy the food you are eating and pay attention to how fast you are eating. It is easy to over consume when talking to others.
9. Skip seconds. Wait 20 minutes and remember that you will have leftovers for a few days that you can enjoy. 
10. Allow for dessert. It’s Thanksgiving. Have your slice of pie and remember to enjoy in moderation.
11. Have some wiggle room. At the end of the day, Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family and loved ones. Allow yourself some foods that you enjoy and make sure to get back on track the following day.

Recipe:

Healthier Green Bean Casserole

2 9 oz. bags frozen green beans (or one bag of green beans and one bag of a second vegetable)

1 pint button mushrooms, sliced

1 onion (half thinly sliced, half chopped)

1 can healthier cream of mushroom soup (example: Campbell’s Healthy Request)

¾ cup 1% or skim milk

Salt and Pepper

Cooking Spray

2 Tbsp. flour
Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine the flour and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.  Toss sliced onions in the mixture until well coated.
2. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Spread the onion strips on the tray. Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes or until crisp.
3. While the crispy onions are baking, sauté the chopped onion and mushrooms until just soft.  Combine in a casserole dish with the frozen veggies, soup, and milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Bake the casserole for about 30 minutes or until warmed through. Five minutes before it is done, top with the baked onion strips.

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