Here are 10 ways to cut the extra fat and calories at your turkey feast.
Turkey
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Because we aren't afraid of puns but we are afraid of the calories hidden in dark meat, when it comes to turkey this holiday season, don't wing it.
Dark meat has nearly twice the amount of saturated fat as the white breast meat.
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Nutrition TipsCranberry Sauce
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Cranberries—fresh cranberries that is—contain a greater amount of antioxidant phenols than 19 commonly eaten fruits. These compounds are able to fight an array of harmful bacteria and viruses in your body.
Fresh cranberries are low-cal and high-fiber but a can of sweet cranberry sauce has a candy bars worth of sugar per 1/2 cup so avoid the sugar and try to make your own.
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Nutrition TipsStuffing
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A serving of your typical sausage stuffing has up to 447 calories per 2/3 cup. Nix more than half of those calories with our super-yum and creative healthy stuffing alternatives.
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Nutrition TipsVeggies
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Turkey is always the focal point of Thanksgiving dinner but if you pile your plate high with greens first, you'll have less room for other stuff, aka carbs and calories.
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Nutrition TipsSweet Potatoes
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Sweet potatoes and candied carrots are some of the most sought-after side dishes of Thanksgiving but there's always a price to pay for sweet, food-coma inducing sides.
Change things up this year with more unique dishes that could end up a staple in your family for years to come.
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Nutrition TipsGreen Beans
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Whether your family enjoys green beans casserole-style or sautéed with lots of butter and garlic, there's definitely more healthy approaches to take with these green pods if you're trying to limit your calorie intake. Sauté your green beans in a bit of olive oil instead of butter to keep them light and fresh.
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Nutrition TipsMashed Potatoes
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Mashed potatoes are way too easy to overeat. With no cutting and no chewing required, it's hard to stop when you've had your proper serving size.
Just one cup of mashed potatoes with gravy can cost you 280 calories, so choose wisely if you know there's going to be some other high value item—we're talking dessert—that you're going to want to eat later.
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Nutrition TipsPumpkin Pie
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We all love pumpkin around this time of year. You might be a pumpkin spiced latte gal or a pumpkin muffin guy but it all culminates in the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.
Luckily, pumpkin pie reigns supreme amongst holiday pies with one slice ringing in at just 316 calories. Our paleo pumpkin pie recipe will leave you feeling guilt-free this year.
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Nutrition TipsApple Pie
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There's probably no dessert more iconic or classic than apple pie. Unfortunately, just one slice of your typical apple pie will set you back about 410 calories.
The good news is, since apple pie is so popular, there are plenty of healthy recipe alternatives that you can try this year. If you don't want to make your own and decide to go with a store-bought pie, skip the ice cream to avoid any extra calories.
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Nutrition TipsPecan Pie
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Pecan pie is just about as hardcore as you can get with high-calorie Thanksgiving desserts. Just one slice can add up to 500 calories or more. If that made you cringe when you read it, try one of our favorite healthy pecan recipes.
Slash 60 calories and 9 grams of fat per piece by substituting rolled oats for half the pecans, and replace the three eggs most recipes call for with one egg and four whites.
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