Tips to Cut Calories From the Thanksgiving Feast

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Thanksgiving doesn't have to equate overeating — even if the holiday is all about sumptuous foods.

The November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips to lighten your holiday meal:

Turkey: Roast the turkey on a rack so that fat drips through and the meat doesn't reabsorb the drippings.

Stuffing: Bake the stuffing in a separate covered dish. (Stuffing inside the turkey absorbs fat.) Use less oil, butter or margarine when sautéing the onions and celery or use low-fat chicken broth instead.

Gravy: Skim fat from the top of the turkey drippings or use a fat separator.

Mashed potatoes: Skip the butter when you mash potatoes. Instead, use skim milk or low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth.

Pie: With most baked goods, you can reduce by half the sugar in a recipe. Use skim or low-fat dairy products in place of whole milk products. You can use two eggs whites instead of a whole egg, without affecting texture or taste.

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