I think I will call my  turkey soup Holi-week soup! that will make it all the more delicious as well as back to basics.

This year Thanksgiving is at my house so I will probably make all the traditional foods.  My husband will bake the turkey (no one seems to trust the vegetarian to do it), I'll make mashed potatoes ( but not with like a pound of butter as in days of old), fresh green beans, stuffing (one with veggie broth for me and one with chicken broth for everyone else), corn, cranberry sauce from the can, and fresh baked dinner rolls.  My mom will probably bring a pecan pie for dessert.  I am really not too worried about this holiday, none of these foods are so very terrible and it's really all in the portions.  I usually am so tired by the time I sit down at the table that I don't even have to worry about overeating.  I think the biggest danger is the newly coined Holi-WEEK.  Enjoy the meal then get back to basics on Fri and we'll all be fine.

I am so used to licking out the bowl and I love raw cookie dough, so when I bake a cake I do it when my husband is in teh kitchen. He also cooks. And if I am too tired or too tempted he will make the cakes, so that is a help. I am not so likely to slip if I have company in the kitchen. I still nibble when I cook but now it is cauliflour and carrots. I now can frost a cake without even tasting the frosting! But making pumpkin pie will be harder. I usually taste it and adjust the spices until it is quite perfectly spicy, but this year I will have to follow the recepie. bummer! I won't be eating it so I guess everyone else will ahve to be happy with what they get!

Hahaha...HoliWEEK...LOVE it!!  For me, it's always more like a HoliMONTH  times 2!!  BUT, we WILL do better THIS year!  I am also planning to cut down on the desserts.  Maybe 2 pies instead of 3. And one cake...instead of cake, brownies, and cookies.  I am finding it easier to bake these days.  I don't feel like I HAVE to eat a bunch of everything that I make.  I just usually let myself have one little bit....giving baked goods away makes me feel good...and I don't end up with the calories!  Just gave away 2 plates of pumpkin bars at my MOPS group Friday...they were left over after last week's pumpkin extraveganza...had to bake pumpkin treats for my son's kindergarten class, and my daughter's preschool.  Mmmm...I had half a pumpkin bar....SO good....made cream cheese frosting w/ orange juice...delish!  Glad they are out of my refrigerator so I don't have to resist them anymore.  I'm not really planning on altering many of my tried and true recipes...I just plan to stay busy and practice portion control.  AND, I will be DRINKING my WATER!  God Bless -- Hilary

We will prepare the same foods except for the desserts.  We always have way too  many pies but we won't this year. I am not concerned for myself but I know it is a very difficult time for others.  I like the idea of the jello instead of the cranberry sauce.  My problem will be all of the starchy foods.  I will use a small plate and put a bite of each that I want and keep it at that.  I will have my boys do the dishes so there is not any temptation for me to continue to eat.

Michelle

I usually try to cut myself some slack on the condiments for healthy foods. Like full fat salad dressing, and real butter on the veggies. Also, having fewer foods to choose from keeps me from feeling stimulated into eating too much.

On the menu, Turkey, Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes, Stove Top Stuffing,  Gravy, Veggies, Salad, and for desert - probably crustless pumpking pie, possibly baked apples. I'm trying to avoid a big bread basket etc. It seems like the more carbs I get into the more I want. So I try to make sure to eat some protein every meal.

Also, don't skip eating early in the day, you will be too hungry when it's time to eat, and you can get into bad trouble that way. Don't make so much food that you will have it haunting you for days either. Remember its a "HoliDAY" not "HoliWEEK".

Also, try to focus on the reason for the gathering. Prep the family to think about what they are greatful for, and plan some time after dinner before dessert to share your reflections on the past year. If the weather permits, try to get some fresh air with a family walk too. Good Luck!

My husband suggested making sugar free jello to have instead of cranberry sauce. It seems to me that they have a cranberry flavor. Its worth considering and if I think I still feel the need to eat cranberry sauce by Thanksgiving guess who is going to have jello instead.

I found out that we will not be having a large gathering this year.  The two larger families are going out of town.  That leaves my small family of two, my daughter and I.. and Mom left.  (no one else lives in Florida) I am planning a low-fat style dinner.  Mom is a heart patient and was excited about this thought.  There will be pie, pumpkin.  We all love it and it is the healthiest of the bunch.  I’m thinking turkey k-bobs, made with turkey tenderloins, red and yellow peppers, red onin.. Bright veggies that will make them POP.  For mash potatoes.. the half cauliflower mashed and half real potatoes will work just fine.  Backed sweet potatoes vs. mashed will also be a good idea.. looking for more ideas too!  (fyi love this post!)

Well we all know what's coming, the very family-oriented and FOOD-dominated holidays.  While I always look forward to this season, now I'm getting a bit nervous about my first holidays on the diet.  I do want to keep an open mind and I certainly don't expect to starve myself while everyone else chows down, so I'm thinking of coming up with tasty and HEALTHY alternatives for the big days.  The only things I've come up with so far is black bean salsa fajitas.  I'm not sure if they're even appropriate for Thanksgiving, but they are delish!  For the kids I'm thinking of whipping up a healthier kind of pizza, made with whole wheat dough, fresh tomatoes and garlic, fresh mozz, etc. 

So do you plan on making anything special that's both healthy and yummy?