by Shirley Bourget

Created on: November 04, 2011   Last Updated: November 06, 2011

You’ve managed to stay on track with diet and exercise but now that Thanksgiving is around the corner, how can you remain fit and trim without compromising? A few subtle changes in holiday routine can help you experience all the traditions of family and friends without over-indulgence.

Get in touch with your emotions. Chances are food isn’t the only thing on your list of what you love about Thanksgiving. Ask yourself what really matters. Focusing on people that you love and placing less emphasis on food is the first step toward success. Looking forward to “Aunt Minnie” rather than her pumpkin pie, helps your brain relish something important without feeling cheated.

Try to plan some kind of physical activity into your celebration. If visiting family, take a walk together before dinner and check out the old neighborhood. Have a scavenger hunt where each person finds objects on a prepared list of Thankful Things that will be shared later in the evening. Even the smallest activity will benefit your mood and boost endorphins.

When it comes to food, think about what you can edit without taking away from what is important to you. That might mean setting limits and sticking to them. Opt for healthy choices but don’t skimp too much on pleasure. You might decide to allow yourself to try three appetizers at a large family gathering but then agree to only take enough for two or three small bites of each. Savor your food. Use a smaller serving dish when possible and walk around, mingling with guests. Give yourself time to enjoy the conversation. In this way, you will feel like part of the festivities without the temptation of overeating.

Choose healthy dishes for the main course. This can be tricky if you are not preparing the meal, so decide to choose things from the menu that are better for you than others. Brown rice over potatoes, hummus over spinach dip, nuts and fresh fruits rather than fudge or cookies are all possibilities that will keep you on track. If you are hosting the meal, don’t be afraid to ask for healthy dishes. Have people bring salads and vegetables as sides, or fruit salad instead of pie for dessert. You can make one pie for everyone to enjoy and substitute healthy fats for bad in traditional dishes in order to maintain control of carb and calorie intake.

Finally, here are two traditional side dish recipes for you to enjoy that have been given a healthy twist:

Zucchini Stuffing

1 small onion and 1 celery rib chopped

3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 Tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon each - baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, poultry seasoning

½ cup canned pumpkin

2 eggs

1/3 cup fat-free milk

¼ cup butter melted

4 cups day old bread cubes (high fiber is best)

3 medium zucchini, chopped

½ cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Sauté onion and celery in olive oil, set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and seasonings. In small bowl, whisk pumpkin, eggs, milk, butter and honey. Stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in bread crumbs, cheese and zucchini. Add onion and celery. Cover and bake in a greased 13 x 19 inch pan at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until browned.

Spiced Cranberry Sauce with Honey

1 – 12 ounce bag fresh cranberries

1 cup apple cider

¾ cup honey

1 cinnamon stick

3 whole cloves

1 bay leaf

Pinch of salt

Bring all ingredients to boil in medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until thick, stirring occasionally. Cool completely. Remove cinnamon stick and bay leaf before serving.

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