Choosing Healthy Foods

Thanksgiving kicks off holiday party season where we gather with friends and family for delicious meals. Following a few key rules can help to keep you and your guests feeling good. Thaw Turkey is the main attraction at many Thanksgiving meals. Whether you buy your turkey fresh or frozen, keeping it at the right temperature in the days leading up to cooking is important for preventing foodborne illness. If you plan to thaw in the refrigerator remember that it can take up to six days for a large turkey to thaw. Thawing in cold water is a faster option, but you need to change the water every 30 minutes to make sure it stays cold enough. Turkey and other meats should never be thawed or left on the counter at room temperature. Cook Roasting to the right temperature can mean the difference between a delicious turkey and one that is either undercooked or dried out. While many turkeys come with a pop up thermometer, it is a good idea to invest in a separate meat thermometer. You want the inte...

HAPPY HEALTHY THANKSGIVING TIPS APPETIZERS: Instead of chips and salsa, make a hummus out of roasted butternut squash with toasted pita chips. GRAVY: Use cornstarch to thicken gravy instead of a heavy roux. Try adding a squeeze of fresh Meyer lemon to your gravy, citrus offers a nice light finish on the palate. STUFFING: Try using grains such as faro or wild rice rather than bread. Use a turkey or chicken sausage in the mix in place of pork. SWEET POTATOES: Use a drizzle of local honey to roast with instead of brown sugar and maple syrup. For a healthier sweet potato casserole as opposed to butter and sugar, add evaporated milk and crushed pineapple. Skip the marshmallows on top and opt for meringue . DESSERTS: When making a pie crust try using equal parts all purpose flour and whole wheat flour. Replace   butter with canola oil and corn syrup with maple syrup. Maple Ginger Cranberry Sauce Yield: 6 servings Ingredients 12 oz. fresh cranberries, washed and any stems removed 1 cup ap...

The holiday season is right around the corner which means lots of celebrating with parties and gatherings accompanied by much to eat and drink, not all being "healthy." First up is Thanksgiving, a time to give thanks, centered around a huge feast. So how do we keep it happy and healthy without weight gain during this joyous season of eating? Here are a few tips on how to have your feast and eat it too without the weight gain. Think About Portion Control Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs when we look at the Thanksgiving spread in front of us. It is important to consume proper portion sizes of our favorite holiday foods versus stacking our plates high with everything. Keep these visual markers in mind as you fill your plate to make sure you’re not over consuming. 1 serving of turkey is 3 oz, about the same size as a deck of playing cards A serving of gravy is 1/4 of a cup, about the size of a golf ball A serving of mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes is 1/2 cup, abo...