Thanksgiving Dinner help

Pylon · 11-11-2006, 08:02 AM

I am in charge of the meal again, but would like to make it as healthy as possible (while still satisfying). I assume I'm not alone in this, right? OK, so where do we start?

Turkey. Easy enough. Now what?

**IainDaniel** · 11-11-2006, 08:55 AM

Potatoes, Sweet potatoes, Brocolli, green beans, Turnip, squash.

Pretty much every typical dish at thanksgiving can be healthy

WBM · 11-11-2006, 09:50 AM

I agree with Iain.

You can chop red potatoes and sweet potatoes, toss them in a bit of olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and rosemary, and roast them up.

Green beans are easy, too. Sautee some onions until really soft and golden and cook the green beans with that.

A salad is easy enough. Or roasted brussesl sprouts.

Many, many choices...

Pylon · 11-11-2006, 04:10 PM

Yeah, yeah...but I'm trying to think of clever ways to do this covertly...as in not letting the family know what I am up to until they are done.

WBM · 11-13-2006, 06:11 AM

Well, let's narrow it down a bit. What do you want to cook?

Pylon · 11-13-2006, 06:59 PM

Whatever. I really decided to make this change because I like the challenge as a cook of creating a really great, yet healthy, meal.

So far, I'm looking at a bird (roasted), mashed potatoes (probably w/ garlic), a tomato-red pepper soup, a salad of some sort, roasted asparagus, cranberry sauce w/ vanilla bean and cardamom, and something with sweet potatoes.

goandykid · 11-16-2006, 04:11 AM

Is stuffing a given? No pumpkin or apple pie? You can still find healthy versions of those.

**Jodi** · 11-16-2006, 07:33 AM

Sweet mashed Potatoes

Boiled Sweet Potatoes
Splenda
Cinnamon
Sugar Twin
SF Maple Syrup
Skim Milk or Almond Milk

Mash the sweet potatoes and add in the ingredients above to reach the consistency and taste you want.

**I Are Baboon** · 11-16-2006, 08:26 AM

I have to go to two Thanksgiving dinners (one at noon and one at 6:00). If either of them are healthy, I will disown the family.

Hey Pylon, love the Marshall Faulk avatar!

goandykid · 11-16-2006, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Are Baboon

I have to go to two Thanksgiving dinners (one at noon and one at 6:00). If either of them are healthy, I will disown the family.

Hey Pylon, love the Marshall Faulk avatar!

You sir, can join my exclusive club of the dual-dinner thanksgivings.

It's an amazing and rare feat, and gives me goosebumps jsut thinking of it. My moms side of the family is having it here in the house, a small one.

My dads side (divorced btw) is having a big one (20-30) people either at a church's cafeteria that we rent or my uncle's house.

Thing is I have to split my time between those from around 3:30-10:00.

largepkg · 11-16-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pylon

Whatever. I really decided to make this change because I like the challenge as a cook of creating a really great, yet healthy, meal.

So far, I'm looking at a bird (roasted), mashed potatoes (probably w/ garlic), a tomato-red pepper soup, a salad of some sort, roasted asparagus, cranberry sauce w/ vanilla bean and cardamom, and something with sweet potatoes.

Don't forget to soak the bird in brine for 6-8 hours prior to cooking!

**IainDaniel** · 11-16-2006, 12:33 PM

Screw that Deep fry it MMMmmmm

goandykid · 11-16-2006, 12:35 PM

Yeah jsut make it a cheat day.

RexStunnahH · 11-16-2006, 01:13 PM

YEah A Cheat day is The Best one!

largepkg · 11-16-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Screw that Deep fry it MMMmmmm

You would still brine it prior to frying. It's worth the extra step, trust me!

vortrit · 11-16-2006, 06:21 PM

Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both of them cheat days, for sure. Besides I don't even cheat that much anymore. I say I'm going to cheat, but I'll probably only eat the white turkey meat...

goandykid · 11-16-2006, 07:34 PM

Pylon, what've you decided? Adding stuffing and pies? Cheat day? Deep fried and brined? It's a holiday, if you eat healthy on Thanksgiving it's not American.

WBM · 11-17-2006, 09:31 AM

Fried turkey...OMG

My ultimate holiday weakness is prailines. That butter-y, sugar-y goodness is hard to beat.

And crushed and sprinkled on top of gooey candied sweet potatoes...

Pylon, what about bread pudding made with whole wheat bread, egg whites, skim milk, stevia, cinnamon, and fruit for dessert? That would be quite yummy.

**I Are Baboon** · 11-17-2006, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortrit

Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both of them cheat days, for sure.

I agree. The problem is, I eat small meals the rest of the year, so I can't really eat all the much Thanksgiving chow at one meal.

I get full too quickly.

**IainDaniel** · 11-17-2006, 10:26 AM

Purge and reload

the nut · 11-17-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IainDaniel

Purge and reload

Hell, we're doing a fried turkey this year.

Spud · 11-17-2006, 10:37 AM

Deep fried turkey?

**IainDaniel** · 11-17-2006, 10:38 AM

Yep Deep fried

http://www.fabulousfoods.com/school/...fryturkey.html

Spud · 11-17-2006, 10:41 AM

Oh my god. That looks heavenly!

**IainDaniel** · 11-17-2006, 10:43 AM

Suprisingly it isn't that bad for you either, as the fat used to cook the turkey isn't absorbed by the bird.

**I Are Baboon** · 11-17-2006, 10:44 AM

I've had fried turkey before. It is AWESOME. Our team cook at a 24 hour bike race made it for us once the night before the race. Soooo good.

RexStunnahH · 11-20-2006, 07:58 AM

Pumpkin Pie with Haupia topping!

11-11-2006, 08:02 AM	#1
Pylon Squishy Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Top 5!!! Posts: 6,473 Photos: 3	Thanksgiving Dinner help I am in charge of the meal again, but would like to make it as healthy as possible (while still satisfying). I assume I'm not alone in this, right? OK, so where do we start? Turkey. Easy enough. Now what?
	"For beverages, I only drink water or whiskey and when I’m drinking whiskey, it’s usually when I’m working out. It gives me the courage to lift more than I can when I’m sober." - C. Bratton

11-11-2006, 08:55 AM	#2
IainDaniel My Role Model Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 15,614	Potatoes, Sweet potatoes, Brocolli, green beans, Turnip, squash. Pretty much every typical dish at thanksgiving can be healthy
	Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

11-11-2006, 09:50 AM	#3
WBM Designer Supplements Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 165	I agree with Iain. You can chop red potatoes and sweet potatoes, toss them in a bit of olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and rosemary, and roast them up. Green beans are easy, too. Sautee some onions until really soft and golden and cook the green beans with that. A salad is easy enough. Or roasted brussesl sprouts. Many, many choices...
WBM Designer Supplements Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 165	www.designersupps.com www.intelligentdesignmag.com

11-11-2006, 04:10 PM	#4
Pylon Squishy Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Top 5!!! Posts: 6,473 Photos: 3	Yeah, yeah...but I'm trying to think of clever ways to do this covertly...as in not letting the family know what I am up to until they are done.
	"For beverages, I only drink water or whiskey and when I’m drinking whiskey, it’s usually when I’m working out. It gives me the courage to lift more than I can when I’m sober." - C. Bratton

11-13-2006, 06:11 AM	#5
WBM Designer Supplements Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 165	Well, let's narrow it down a bit. What do you want to cook?
WBM Designer Supplements Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 165	www.designersupps.com www.intelligentdesignmag.com

11-13-2006, 06:59 PM	#6
Pylon Squishy Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Top 5!!! Posts: 6,473 Photos: 3	Whatever. I really decided to make this change because I like the challenge as a cook of creating a really great, yet healthy, meal. So far, I'm looking at a bird (roasted), mashed potatoes (probably w/ garlic), a tomato-red pepper soup, a salad of some sort, roasted asparagus, cranberry sauce w/ vanilla bean and cardamom, and something with sweet potatoes.
	"For beverages, I only drink water or whiskey and when I’m drinking whiskey, it’s usually when I’m working out. It gives me the courage to lift more than I can when I’m sober." - C. Bratton

11-16-2006, 04:11 AM	#7
goandykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,380	Is stuffing a given? No pumpkin or apple pie? You can still find healthy versions of those.

11-16-2006, 07:33 AM	#8
Jodi Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 22,265 Photos: 1	Sweet mashed Potatoes Boiled Sweet Potatoes Splenda Cinnamon Sugar Twin SF Maple Syrup Skim Milk or Almond Milk Mash the sweet potatoes and add in the ingredients above to reach the consistency and taste you want.

11-16-2006, 08:26 AM	#9
I Are Baboon pedal pedal pedal Moderator Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Beerville Posts: 10,916 Photos: 10	I have to go to two Thanksgiving dinners (one at noon and one at 6:00). If either of them are healthy, I will disown the family. Hey Pylon, love the Marshall Faulk avatar!

11-16-2006, 12:33 PM	#12
IainDaniel My Role Model Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 15,614	Screw that Deep fry it MMMmmmm
	Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

11-16-2006, 12:35 PM	#13
goandykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,380	Yeah jsut make it a cheat day.

11-16-2006, 01:13 PM	#14
RexStunnahH The #1 StunnaH Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ewa Beach,Hawaii Posts: 465 Photos: 2	YEah A Cheat day is The Best one!
	"MAKE IT HAPPEN"

11-16-2006, 06:21 PM	#16
vortrit Bulk. Cut. Repeat. Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 2,652 Blog Entries: 1 Photos: 5	Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both of them cheat days, for sure. Besides I don't even cheat that much anymore. I say I'm going to cheat, but I'll probably only eat the white turkey meat...

11-16-2006, 07:34 PM	#17
goandykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,380	Pylon, what've you decided? Adding stuffing and pies? Cheat day? Deep fried and brined? It's a holiday, if you eat healthy on Thanksgiving it's not American.

11-17-2006, 09:31 AM	#18
WBM Designer Supplements Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 165	Fried turkey...OMG My ultimate holiday weakness is prailines. That butter-y, sugar-y goodness is hard to beat. And crushed and sprinkled on top of gooey candied sweet potatoes... Pylon, what about bread pudding made with whole wheat bread, egg whites, skim milk, stevia, cinnamon, and fruit for dessert? That would be quite yummy.
WBM Designer Supplements Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 165	www.designersupps.com www.intelligentdesignmag.com

11-17-2006, 10:26 AM	#20
IainDaniel My Role Model Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 15,614	Purge and reload
	Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

11-17-2006, 10:37 AM	#22
Spud Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hart House! Posts: 753	Deep fried turkey?
	No Milk, no. Milk is for babies. When you grow up, you have to drink beer. Please read and comment on my journal

11-17-2006, 10:38 AM	#23
IainDaniel My Role Model Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 15,614	Yep Deep fried http://www.fabulousfoods.com/school/...fryturkey.html
	Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

11-17-2006, 10:41 AM	#24
Spud Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hart House! Posts: 753	Oh my god. That looks heavenly!
	No Milk, no. Milk is for babies. When you grow up, you have to drink beer. Please read and comment on my journal

11-17-2006, 10:43 AM	#25
IainDaniel My Role Model Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 15,614	Suprisingly it isn't that bad for you either, as the fat used to cook the turkey isn't absorbed by the bird.
	Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. Michael Jordan

11-17-2006, 10:44 AM	#26
I Are Baboon pedal pedal pedal Moderator Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Beerville Posts: 10,916 Photos: 10	I've had fried turkey before. It is AWESOME. Our team cook at a 24 hour bike race made it for us once the night before the race. Soooo good.

11-20-2006, 07:58 AM	#27
RexStunnahH The #1 StunnaH Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ewa Beach,Hawaii Posts: 465 Photos: 2	Pumpkin Pie with Haupia topping!
	"MAKE IT HAPPEN"

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