With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and the urge to consume huge amounts of food beckoning many of us, now is the time to begin with the end in mind when it comes to cooking that sumptuous meal.

Holidays are the perfect time to throw our healthy eating out the window, kicking diets to the curb. We often eat without awareness, tend to consume a lot more calories than we usually might, can ignore intuitive signs that we’re full and can rationalize eating high fat foods. Ring a bell?

But when it comes to holiday cooking, all it takes is a little forethought to make food taste great without adding unnecessary calories. Here are a few simple tips to keep your Thanksgiving cooking healthy and low fat but packed with flavor.

• Use chicken broth and fresh herbs in dishes to add flavor
• Focus on roasting and baking instead of frying
• When making green beans – instead of using bacon , add toasted sesame seeds — less fat and lots of flavor
• When making sweet potatoes or other favorite sides dishes - use pure maple syrup or agave nectar as a sweetener instead of sugar or marshmallows (I never did understand the appeal of sweet potatoes with marshmallows anyway!)
• Stuffing – use whole grain bread for a healthier twist than white bread
• Substitute olive oil for butter in recipes

What are you favorite ways to add flavor but stay on track with healthy eating when the holidays roll around? Share your ideas below and have a happy Thanksgiving!

Filed under: Cooking, Food preparation, Healthy Meals, Holidays, Mindful Eating, Sweet Potatoes, Vegetables