3 Low-Fat Thanksgiving Ideas for Seniors Watching Their Weight
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. In just a few short weeks, folks will be stocking up on turkey, stuffing, and sides to celebrate the ultimate family feast. However, with the average American consuming up to 4,500 calories during this holiday meal, traditional Thanksgiving dishes might not be the best option for seniors who want to lead healthy lifestyles.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to prepare low-calorie, low-fat foods that make the perfect Thanksgiving sides, entrees, and desserts.
3 Healthy Thanksgiving Tips for Fox Cities Seniors
Here are three simple tips older adults can use to create delicious and nutritious Thanksgiving dishes.
The centerpiece of any great Thanksgiving spread is a big, juicy turkey. However, this bird can be packed with fat, sodium, and other unhealthy ingredients depending on how it's prepared.
Seniors who are mindful of their waistlines should take some extra cooking precautions to ensure the turkey is low in calories and fats. Some tips to use are:
● Don’t deep fry the turkey. Roast it in its own juices.
● Stuff your turkey with oranges and other tantalizing fruits. You can buy these from your local farmers’ market, including the Downtown Appleton Farmers’ Market or Fox Cities Farmers’ Market.
● Add flavor with thyme, tarragon, rosemary, and other fresh herbs.
● Remove the skin when it’s time to eat.
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple. However, packaged potatoes can be high in sodium and salt. This beloved dish can also contain a lot of butter and unhealthy fats.
Want more nutritious Thanksgiving sides? Consider making mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower instead of the traditional dish. Cauliflower is loaded with healthy vitamins and nutrients and can help with weight loss, support gut health, and boost immunity. Additionally, eating sweet potatoes has been shown to improve brain health, vision, and immunity.
Use this recipe from Love and Lemons to whip up a mouthwatering dish of mashed cauliflowers.
Nothing is better than a savory Thanksgiving meal than the sweet desserts that follow. Unfortunately, all of that pie and ice cream can be detrimental to your health and weight.
If you can’t skip eating pie entirely, consider skipping the crust. This will save you from lots of calories and fats. If baking a pie, pour your batter into a regular pie pan or cupcake tray and bake. This trick works well for pumpkin pies, fruit pies, and custards.
Need a hand in the kitchen this Thanksgiving? Right at Home serving the Fox Cities and Green Bay area, is happy to help! Our in-home caregivers can help you shop for all of the ingredients you need, plan your meal, prepare it, and do the dishes.
Contact us today at (920) 257-4667 for more information. We proudly serve seniors throughout the Fox Cities and Green Bay, WI.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to prepare low-calorie, low-fat foods that make the perfect Thanksgiving sides, entrees, and desserts.
3 Healthy Thanksgiving Tips for Fox Cities Seniors
Here are three simple tips older adults can use to create delicious and nutritious Thanksgiving dishes.
1. Make a Low-Fat Turkey
The centerpiece of any great Thanksgiving spread is a big, juicy turkey. However, this bird can be packed with fat, sodium, and other unhealthy ingredients depending on how it's prepared.
Seniors who are mindful of their waistlines should take some extra cooking precautions to ensure the turkey is low in calories and fats. Some tips to use are:
● Don’t deep fry the turkey. Roast it in its own juices.
● Stuff your turkey with oranges and other tantalizing fruits. You can buy these from your local farmers’ market, including the Downtown Appleton Farmers’ Market or Fox Cities Farmers’ Market.
● Add flavor with thyme, tarragon, rosemary, and other fresh herbs.
● Remove the skin when it’s time to eat.
2. Make Mashed Cauliflowers or Sweet Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple. However, packaged potatoes can be high in sodium and salt. This beloved dish can also contain a lot of butter and unhealthy fats.
Want more nutritious Thanksgiving sides? Consider making mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower instead of the traditional dish. Cauliflower is loaded with healthy vitamins and nutrients and can help with weight loss, support gut health, and boost immunity. Additionally, eating sweet potatoes has been shown to improve brain health, vision, and immunity.
Use this recipe from Love and Lemons to whip up a mouthwatering dish of mashed cauliflowers.
3. Eliminate the Crust
Nothing is better than a savory Thanksgiving meal than the sweet desserts that follow. Unfortunately, all of that pie and ice cream can be detrimental to your health and weight.
If you can’t skip eating pie entirely, consider skipping the crust. This will save you from lots of calories and fats. If baking a pie, pour your batter into a regular pie pan or cupcake tray and bake. This trick works well for pumpkin pies, fruit pies, and custards.
Right at Home Fox Cities, WI, Help Seniors Enjoy Healthy Thanksgiving Meals
Need a hand in the kitchen this Thanksgiving? Right at Home serving the Fox Cities and Green Bay area, is happy to help! Our in-home caregivers can help you shop for all of the ingredients you need, plan your meal, prepare it, and do the dishes.
Contact us today at (920) 257-4667 for more information. We proudly serve seniors throughout the Fox Cities and Green Bay, WI.
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