Healthy Thanksgiving

Fallen leaves on the ground and the empty bags of Halloween candy are the harbingers of the forthcoming holiday season. Thanksgiving in the US is only a couple of weeks away.

Thanksgiving may bring images to mind of family get-togethers, monstrous meals and football games on TV. The family and football parts of the holiday are terrific, especially if my Packers, er, I mean your favorite team is winning, but that big Thanksgiving feast may start you out on the wrong foot nutrition-wise for the rest of the holiday season.

While not many families will prepare spartan meals for Thanksgiving, you can make your holiday fare a bit more nutritious with these tips from the University of Michigan:

• slow down - eating fast means eating more food
• choose whole grain breads
• eat lots of green and colorful vegetables
• drink lots of water
• eat the turkey meat, but not the skin
• enjoy a low fat dessert

Eating one big meal on one holiday doesn't really seem like much, but many people gain a pound or two over the holidays. That adds up to a lot of weight gain over the years. This year, start the holidays off with a healthy Thanksgiving.

Healthy Additions for Your Thanksgiving

• Roasted Asparagus
• Low Fat Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Cranberry Vinaigrette
• and for the leftovers - Turkey Cranberry Stew

Daily Nutrition Tip

_{Photo © Andy Staveley}