Surviving Thanksgiving

Just a note that blogs may be hit-or-miss for a little while. I will try to post as often as possible; however, we have a big event happening in our family so I will be spending a lot of my time and energy with that for a while.

Here are some tips for getting through Thanksgiving dinner without spoiling your weight loss!

1. Remember that its just one day, so don't be too hard on yourself if you overdo it a little bit. Just remember to get back to healthier eating the next day.

2. Remember that Christmas, and many events leading up to it, will provide you with a chance to eat goodies. So, don't go overboard thinking that this is food you'll NEVER see again!

3. Consider reconstructing some of your recipes to make them a little healthier.

4. Pick a few family favorites, but don't go overboard with cooking. The more choices you have to select from, the more you'll eat!

5. Don't deprive yourself of a holiday favorite, but take a small portion and enjoy it. Consider freezing left overs and savor it throughout the season.

6. Take a morning walk if you're a morning person! Otherwise, consider taking an after-dinner walk. You won't burn all of the calories you ate, but you'll burn some! Also, if you're diabetic, it will help with your blood sugar.

7. If you're attending Thanksgiving dinner at someone else's house, let them know that you don't want to come empty handed and would like to bring a dish. Bring something that is healthy and you enjoy. This way you know you'll have at least one healthy dish.

8. Eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. Don't starve yourself until dinner because you're likely to just go overboard.

9. Drink plenty of water. Some people overeat due to thirst! It may sound funny, but its true!

10. When you finish your plate, take a break and enjoy everyone's company. Ask yourself if you're really hungry for more, or satisfied before running back for seconds.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Examples of Recipe Reconstruction

Here are two examples of how I reconstructed recipes and the results were crowd pleasers! Please note that these recipes aren't necessarily the healthiest recipes; however, it allows you to have a little indulgence with less saturated fat, calories, and sugar.

Original Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 quart half/half
1 pint whipping cream
1 cup chocolate syrup
1 T vanilla extract
3 cups milk

Beat eggs with electric mixer at medium speed until frothy. Gradually add sugar, beating until thick. Add next 4 ingredients; mix well. Pour mixture into freezer can of a 1-gallon hand-turned or electric freezer.
Add enough milk to fill can about three-fourths full, or up to the line on inside of freezer container. Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Let ripen at least 1 hour in freezer.
Yield: About 1 gallon

Chocolate Ice Cream Made-Over

¾ cup egg substitute
1 cup splenda
½ Q fat free half/half
½ Q reg half/half
1 pt whipping cream
1 Cup chocolate syrup
1 T vanilla extract
3 cups skim milk


Mexican Chicken

6 chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom
½ cup chicken broth
1 small onion chopped
½ cup shredded cheddar
1 sm bag of doritos crushed
1 can tomatoes diced


Boil chicken breast and debone. Combine all ingredients except chicken, cheese and chips. Layer chips in bottom of greased casserole dish, put chicken in next, then sauce, and top with shredded cheese, Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. Goes well with rice.

Mexican Chicken Made-Over

Remove fat and skin from chicken
2 cans healthy request cream of chicken
½ cup reduced sodium chicken broth
Cheddar cheese made with 2% milk
Baked doritos
Use nonstick spray
Use whole grain rice

Motivational Monday
I exercise because I want my clothes to fit!