The question of healthy diet vs. family desire for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

[riderinthestorm]

7. Make the traditionals and set aside healthier items for yourself

If you are making green bean casserole, use fresh green beans and set aside some that are simply steamed for you. Mashed potatoes for everyone else and a baked potato for you. Turkey is pretty healthy - just don't put gravy and stuffing on it. Skip the dinner rolls and eat more fruit salad or spinach salad (or whatever other healthier options you are having).

Since big family dinners are always at my house, I've had to juggle different diets (vegetarians, vegans, people on a strict diet) and I've learned I can make myself crazy trying to accomodate everyone. So I just make the traditionals as usual allocating portions of the same ingredients to be cooked in a much simpler, healthier way (eg. like putting a couple of baked potatoes in the oven on a lower shelf as the turkey cooks instead of throwing those last two into the mashed potato pot).

If I'm cleaning and trimming green beans for casserole, I simply throw some into the steamer instead of into the casserole dish while I'm prepping.

Good luck!