DELICIOUS LOW-CALORIE HOLIDAY MEALS

You don't have to break everyone's diet to serve a delicious holiday meal.

If you're on a diet, your family is on and off diets, and the relatives you've invited are always watching their weight, make them happy by preparing a delicious low-calorie, low-fat Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner that could pass in taste for regulation fare. The holiday menu gives a cook a wide range of selections from which to choose. The trick is just making the healthiest choices which will leave no one feeling deprived. Because it's not the foods themselves that get us in trouble, it's what we end up doing to them. And, don't ignore portion size. Just because the dishes are low calorie, low-fat doesn't mean you can eat them until your belt pops open or you defeat all your efforts.

Sure all the luscious pictures of Thanksgiving and Christmas tables show a turkey with the skin on, but that doesn't mean you can't remove all those extra calories and unneeded fat. You can still get a moist, buttery brown surface by basting with lemon, olive oil and herbs. Turkey itself is low in fat and full of protein. And here's a recipe for a low-sodium turkey, "Healthy Holiday Roast Turkey with Healthful Herbs" http://healthycooking.suite101.com/article.cfm/healthy_holiday_roast_turkey_with_fresh_herb
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Sweet potatoes are healthy in themselves before they get all doctored up with marshmallows, brown sugar, butter and what have you. Try using a gentle sprinkling of brown sugar combined with orange juice for sweet potatoes that will still taste sinfully good.

There is no law that says mashed potatoes must be laden in heavy cream and butter. Did you ever try substituting reduced sodium, fat-free chicken broth, sour cream or fat-free milk instead? Use garlic and/or other herbs to flavor. Garlic smashed potatoes are a popular favorite that go well with turkey.

Vegetables are easy to make healthier. Simply steam or roast them. Do without the buttery and cheesy sauces this year. The green bean casserole will taste just as good with toasted almonds on top of it instead of fried onion rings. Use herbs for the flavor. Or do without the casserole and simply saute them in olive oil with shallots. Delicious.

Parsnips and carrots are very good with fat-free oven baking in olive oil with chopped thyme or rosemary to taste.

And for around 100 calories, you can offer cider-glazed brussels sprouts, a beautiful addition to any holiday table. Simply bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook washed and trimmed sprouts for 6-8 minutes until tender. Drain water. Then in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 thinly sliced garlic cloves, and 1 thinly sliced red onion. Add brussels sprouts and 1/2 cup apple cider. Cook on high until cider is reduced and sprouts are tender. Add salt and pepper.

And please don't leave out the healthiest part of any Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner: the cranberries. These beautiful, colorful little jewels have more antioxidants than almost any other fruit, offering protection against heart disease, cancer, and the effects of aging. They also contain condensed tannins, called proanthocyanidins, that prevent bacteria from adhering to the digestive tract, safeguarding you from ulcers and urinary-tract infections. Read more at "The Health Benefits of Cranberries". http://food-facts.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_health_benefits_of_cranberries

Finally, don't leave off the traditional pumpkin pie, a wonderful source of fiber. Since most of the fat in pumpkin pie is in the crust. Here's a recipe for a crustless pumpkin pie that will have the relatives standing in line to get the recipe for Low Fat Crustless Pumpkin Pie.http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/dessert/r/crustlesspumppi.htm

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas and wishing you a slimmer New Year!