One of the things I enjoyed several weeks before Thanksgiving was sifting through food magazines, cookbooks and television shows - trying to come up with my menu. One common ingredient in most recipes is butter. While I have nothing against butter - 2 sticks per dish when there are an average of 8 dishes on the table does not a healthful meal make. To saute carrots, onions and celery in 2 tbs of butter is good ... to do the same in 2 cups of butter is approaching Paula Deen's land of insanity.
This year as I plan my menu - my major goal is to make it simple, delicious and healthy. The first 2 goals I have had before but the 3rd is new.
So the question is Can the Thanksgiving meal be healthful without being boring?
I think so.
Lets review the things that most probably will show up on the table.
Turkey - the star of the meal is very low in fat even when it is draped in a butter soaked cheesecloth (see previous post).
Mashed Potatoes - Potatoes are a maligned vegetable for no reason what so ever. They are high in potassium, vitamin C and folate. They contain a trace amount of fat.
Its usually what'd done to the potato that gives it a bad rap.
I will be mashing mine in buttermilk, loads of garlic and butter
Sweet Potatoes - are not so maligned, rightfully so. Sweet Potatoes are rich in beta-carotene and a multitude of antioxidants.
I intend to make them with maple syrup, ginger and maybe walnuts or pecans. Control your urge to say Yumm-O
Root Vegetable Medley - What could be bad about that?
Nothing I say ... nothing at all
The Stuffing
I am not entirely sure what kind I will be making this year
I still have some time to decide. Stuffing is my favorite thing to make and so I take my time deciding what exactly I'll do. After having made it a gazillion times - I don't use a recipe. I change my mind at the last minute and throw things in. No one knows what exactly I will be cooking until after it's cooked and I put on some photos to prove it.
Some of my favorite ingredients to put in the stuffing are:
Sour dough Bread
Corn Bread
Wild Rice
Chestnuts
Leeks
(I think I have the making of my stuffing right here)
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
So good-so misunderstood. So high in magnesium. potassium, riboflavin, thiamin...the list goes on and on
Cranberry Sauce with orange segments and orange zest - cranberries have 5 times the antioxidant content of broccoli.
Nothing wrong here at all.
Salad - Don't know which kind yet.
All good
Dessert
Difficult to rationalize and make 'good'.
The only way to deal with this one is to exercise portion control or use Dr. Oz's u-turn technique that I have been using all year. You can look it up in his book: You- On a Diet
I think I have my menu.
The starters will probably be outsourced to the guests coming over who insist on bringing something.
I might make my Cognac Scented Chicken Livers on Croutons.
Chicken livers are high in zinc and selenium and they are just so delicious.
I have to stop now - I am getting hungry.
I feel good about my menu. I think it is going to be a healthful Thanksgiving Feast and no one will be the wiser.
Thank God we don't need Rice Cakes and Slim Fast Shakes not to feel guilty about enjoying the glorious day that is Thanksgiving.
Share your Thanksgiving menu with me.
Want some ideas of what to make? I can help
Until I eat again!
Showing posts with label healthful eating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthful eating. Show all posts
November 13, 2008
June 9, 2008
June 9th, 2008
It is a struggle everyday to eat healthfully. I wish it wasn't the case but it is. I was at the Green Market in Union Square on Saturday - I bought a fresh pressed apple and raspberry juice without added sugar-that was $3/- Not bad. Next I wanted some bread. Nothing less that $7 for half a loaf or $10 for a loaf. I kept moving on. Everything looked so beautiful but I was looking for something that I could eat at work. In the refrigerator I had some whole wheat pita, cottage cheese and mesclun greens. I just wanted a little something to make the meal I would create with these ingredients interesting, and the 8 hours I would have to spend at work bearable. I circled the market twice just admiring the beautiful produce and the flowers - but not being able to figure out what I should get. As I was coming to the end of the market-I saw some beautiful Jersey Tomatoes. That would be good - I thought. I'll slice a ripe and delicious tomato and that'll round out my lunch beautifully. I walked up to the tomatoes and picked one up. I handed it to the woman, looking at her apologetically that I was just buying the one. "Would you like a bag?" she asked - something everyone at the market is doing now. I was shaking my head no and opening my wallet readying it to hand her 50 cents, a dollar maybe. "One seventy five" she said. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a little take aback. I wanted to just say no thank you and walk away - but I was getting late. I handed her $2 and she gave me back a quarter. I walked the block to work shaking my head and wondering how one is supposed to eat healthfully and not break the bank. I had such a sticker shock that I didn't even buy my cup of coffee that I normally do. I was just going to make coffee at work and not spend the $1.
Today, I am at Starbucks and wanted lunch. It is close to 100 degrees outside so I didn't want to walk far - I saw a Subway and thought this should do. I don't think my wallet can stand another shock today. And if Jared lost weight on it - I can find something to eat here. I ordered the 6 inch Tuna on whole wheat with lettuce and cucumbers. I think I am done with tomatoes for a few days and then there is the salmonella scare these days. I was looking for the calorie postings and my turn came too soon to comprehend all the numbers. Is it the price or the calories? I don't know. As soon as my turn came I said Tuna on whole wheat. I just finished eating it sitting in Starbucks. I went on the Subway website for calorie information. A 6 inch sub is 530 calories and 270 from fat. I clearly could have made a better choice but I am not going to beat myself over it. $4.74 and $1.90 for coffee at Starbucks. I don't intend on making Subway a regular habit for lunch or any other meal since the sandwich tasted quite bad. But as I noted on past posts - I think this calorie posting is a good thing. It makes me mindful of what I am eating. So not to sound like a broken record - but these postings can be helpful.
Eating at these fast food places and not having a satisfactory experience is a whole other post for another day.
Until I eat again.
It is a struggle everyday to eat healthfully. I wish it wasn't the case but it is. I was at the Green Market in Union Square on Saturday - I bought a fresh pressed apple and raspberry juice without added sugar-that was $3/- Not bad. Next I wanted some bread. Nothing less that $7 for half a loaf or $10 for a loaf. I kept moving on. Everything looked so beautiful but I was looking for something that I could eat at work. In the refrigerator I had some whole wheat pita, cottage cheese and mesclun greens. I just wanted a little something to make the meal I would create with these ingredients interesting, and the 8 hours I would have to spend at work bearable. I circled the market twice just admiring the beautiful produce and the flowers - but not being able to figure out what I should get. As I was coming to the end of the market-I saw some beautiful Jersey Tomatoes. That would be good - I thought. I'll slice a ripe and delicious tomato and that'll round out my lunch beautifully. I walked up to the tomatoes and picked one up. I handed it to the woman, looking at her apologetically that I was just buying the one. "Would you like a bag?" she asked - something everyone at the market is doing now. I was shaking my head no and opening my wallet readying it to hand her 50 cents, a dollar maybe. "One seventy five" she said. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a little take aback. I wanted to just say no thank you and walk away - but I was getting late. I handed her $2 and she gave me back a quarter. I walked the block to work shaking my head and wondering how one is supposed to eat healthfully and not break the bank. I had such a sticker shock that I didn't even buy my cup of coffee that I normally do. I was just going to make coffee at work and not spend the $1.
Today, I am at Starbucks and wanted lunch. It is close to 100 degrees outside so I didn't want to walk far - I saw a Subway and thought this should do. I don't think my wallet can stand another shock today. And if Jared lost weight on it - I can find something to eat here. I ordered the 6 inch Tuna on whole wheat with lettuce and cucumbers. I think I am done with tomatoes for a few days and then there is the salmonella scare these days. I was looking for the calorie postings and my turn came too soon to comprehend all the numbers. Is it the price or the calories? I don't know. As soon as my turn came I said Tuna on whole wheat. I just finished eating it sitting in Starbucks. I went on the Subway website for calorie information. A 6 inch sub is 530 calories and 270 from fat. I clearly could have made a better choice but I am not going to beat myself over it. $4.74 and $1.90 for coffee at Starbucks. I don't intend on making Subway a regular habit for lunch or any other meal since the sandwich tasted quite bad. But as I noted on past posts - I think this calorie posting is a good thing. It makes me mindful of what I am eating. So not to sound like a broken record - but these postings can be helpful.
Eating at these fast food places and not having a satisfactory experience is a whole other post for another day.
Until I eat again.
April 28, 2008
Monday, April 28th
Healthful eating is not an easy task. Nor is losing weight. Even harder is maintaining weight loss.
I know I am not saying anything that you haven't heard before. But some things can stand repeating. I make the above remarks from experience. I consider myself a near expert on weight loss and an expert on weight gain. I can blame my genes, or my metabolism or all the delicious food that there is in this world - but I have no one to blame myself.
I know, it is Monday morning and I am depressing you. Also you might be thinking, "Oh its Monday," and "here is another person talking about starting another diet. How original". Wait. Wait. Before you write me off as another nut - I want to say that I have been on this particular weight loss journey since early January of this year. That makes it almost 4 months since I have been on this weight loss track. A pleasant bonus of this particular weight loss journey has been the ability for me to quit smoking. All this is very exciting to me.
As I look back over these 4 months I am trying to figure out what was different this time. Why will it stick this time? How can I make sure that things will stick this time?
In the coming weeks, months, and who knows ... years, I would like to document my triumphs and roadblocks to weight loss and ultimately healthful living.
Have you ever tried to lose weight? What was most helpful to you and conversely - what was most challenging?
Until I eat again!
Healthful eating is not an easy task. Nor is losing weight. Even harder is maintaining weight loss.
I know I am not saying anything that you haven't heard before. But some things can stand repeating. I make the above remarks from experience. I consider myself a near expert on weight loss and an expert on weight gain. I can blame my genes, or my metabolism or all the delicious food that there is in this world - but I have no one to blame myself.
I know, it is Monday morning and I am depressing you. Also you might be thinking, "Oh its Monday," and "here is another person talking about starting another diet. How original". Wait. Wait. Before you write me off as another nut - I want to say that I have been on this particular weight loss journey since early January of this year. That makes it almost 4 months since I have been on this weight loss track. A pleasant bonus of this particular weight loss journey has been the ability for me to quit smoking. All this is very exciting to me.
As I look back over these 4 months I am trying to figure out what was different this time. Why will it stick this time? How can I make sure that things will stick this time?
In the coming weeks, months, and who knows ... years, I would like to document my triumphs and roadblocks to weight loss and ultimately healthful living.
Have you ever tried to lose weight? What was most helpful to you and conversely - what was most challenging?
Until I eat again!
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