Thanksgiving

Burn 700 calories cooking thanksgiving dinner

Nifer — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:10:01 +0000

I love being in the kitchen on Thanksgiving. Between the delicious smells, nice company and constant foot traffic (everyone finds a reason to stop by the kitchen on Thanksgiving!), it’s the place to be in the lead-up to the year’s most sumptuous meal. But anyone who’s ever hoisted a turkey out of the oven or chopped so many veggies their wrists have cramped knows that making Thanksgiving dinner can be hard work. And though a lot of attention is paid to the calories consumed on Thanksgiving, not that much thought is given to the calories burned.

The 7 healthiest foods on your thanksgiving menu

Nifer — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:05:56 +0000

Thanksgiving is quickly becoming my favorite holiday. And why not? It’s a great time to hang out with family, watch football and, of course, eat an amazing meal.

Most people think of Thanksgiving dinner as being a bit of a calorie bomb. And, really, it is: in a recent issue of EatingWell we estimated that the Turkey Day meal clocks at least 2,800 calories.

The biggest calorie bomb at Thanksgiving dinner & 10 fun Thanksgiving food facts

Nifer — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:05:33 +0000

There’s a lot that’s changed about Thanksgiving in the years since the Pilgrims gathered for their first meal of thanks. For instance, they weren’t were watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade while they basted their bird (that started in 1924) or rummaging through sale racks for a bargain sweater the day after on Black Friday. Here are a few fun Thanksgiving food facts to mull over while you enjoy your meal.

Healthy meals to use up Thanksgiving leftovers

Nifer — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:12:16 +0000

We have an open-door policy when it comes to Thanksgiving: we welcome in anyone who turns up. Especially this year, when the wild fall weather has made travel planning difficult and unpredictable, chances are a lot more people will be staying closer to home. Their last-minute plans mean I’ll want to cook a big turkey, to make sure we have enough. Chances are good that I’ll go overboard (Thanksgiving math always trips me up—is it 20 ounces per person or 20 minutes per pound?) and that means leftovers.

5 instant no-cook appetizers

Nifer — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 18:23:15 +0000

An invitation to dinner is just about all the appetizer I need—I’m so happy to have someone feed me that I’m not fussy about what’s on the menu. But if, when I arrive, there are little nibbles to start things off, it’s a delightful bonus. Appetizers really take gatherings up a notch, showing an attention to detail I appreciate.

4 secrets to better sweet potato casserole

Penelope Wall — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:39:45 +0000

Traditionally topped with marshmallows and containing upwards of a stick of butter, sweet potato casserole is one decadent side dish that can become too decadent in a hurry. I want to indulge, but not at that fat- and calorie-laden price. I think EatingWell’s healthy sweet potato casserole is even more delicious than traditional sweet potato casserole recipes and will leave me room for pumpkin pie too. Read on to find out our 4 secrets for making healthier sweet potato casserole.

How to make perfect gravy

Penelope Wall — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:10:17 +0000

For the past couple of years, we’ve grilled our turkey outside on our charcoal grill. I love the subtle smokiness of the meat and I love the way it frees up space in the oven. But there is one downfall. The gravy suffers. Why? The secret to the perfect gravy (flavor-wise) is those delicious brown caramelized bits you get at the bottom of the roasting pan. And you can really only achieve those if you roast your bird in the oven.

The 8 biggest Thanksgiving mistakes and how to avoid them

Penelope Wall — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:26:02 +0000

I look forward to a big festive Thanksgiving with lots of family and friends every year. I love the food and (no surprise since I’m the food editor of EatingWell Magazine) the cooking too. All this worry that Americans have over the meal seems just plain silly to me. Why does roasting a turkey inspire endless debate about how to keep the meat moist and how to know when it’s done?

Best and worst Thanksgiving foods

Penelope Wall — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:13:22 +0000

Let me first preface this by saying that if you want to eat a little of everything this Thanksgiving, you should. Gratefully savoring a little bit of every delicious course on this one holiday sounds like a healthy thing to do, to me. (Try these healthier versions of Thanksgiving classics.)

Dark meat vs. white meat: which turkey is healthier?

Matt Malenczak — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:49:25 +0000

Turkey Day is around the corner and many of us are gearing up for a big Thanksgiving feast. As a registered dietitian and associate nutrition editor of EatingWell Magazine, I’m often asked about the healthiest and worst holiday foods. (Green Bean Casserole or Sweet Potato Casserole? Gravy or Cranberry Sauce? Find out the Best & Worst Thanksgiving Foods.)

3 secrets to the best pumpkin pie

Matt Malenczak — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:27:26 +0000

If you’re looking for the easiest possible dessert to whip up for Thanksgiving, it doesn’t get any simpler than pumpkin pie. If you can open a can, you can make pumpkin pie. And unlike other Thanksgiving desserts, it’s relatively healthy (or at least it can be). Pumpkin, like all orange foods, is a rich source of beta carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A. Vitamin A plays an important role in bone growth, reproduction and immune function and, perhaps most notably, vision. One slice of our pumpkin pie provides 137% of the daily value of vitamin A.

5 secrets to making green bean casserole healthier

Matt Malenczak — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:08:58 +0000

Traditionally made with butter, canned soup and canned French-fried onions, Green Bean Casserole—a classic Thanksgiving side dish since its invention more than 55 years ago—is high in calories, sodium and saturated fat. When you taste the lighter version developed by my fellow cooks in the EatingWell Test Kitchen, we’re sure you’ll agree this is one culinary icon that was ready for a re-invention.

Thanksgiving for less than $5 per serving

Matt Malenczak — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:21:23 +0000

I’d love to host my family’s Thanksgiving meal more often, but the one thing that gives me pause is the cost. Granted, I can get carried away—there’s the gourmet food, the candles, the cute centerpiece for the table, not to mention the wine to go along with it. So instead of giving up on hosting altogether I’m committed to focusing on what really matters—the food. I don’t need fancy monogrammed turkey napkins to make the meal taste good after all.

Your After Thanksgiving Diet Plan

Penelope Wall — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:27:51 +0000

Q: “I ate way too much at Thanksgiving. How can I get back on track?”

A: OK, so you overate. We all did! For many people, Thanksgiving is a calculated calorie splurge—something they plan to pay for with good behavior in the following weeks. I know that I, for one, have a long history of redoubled jogging efforts starting the following Monday (after the long food coma of Thanksgiving afternoon).

What to Do with Thanksgiving Leftovers

Penelope Wall — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:17:18 +0000

Q: “What can I do with my leftovers?”

A: Happy Thanksgiving! By now your menu is finalized, your turkey’s in the oven and your guests are arriving. Maybe the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is on TV in the next room. Congratulations! You’re in for a day of delicious food and great company.