Thanksgiving - how do you deal with old favorites?

(deactivated member)
on 11/19/08 6:24 am - Cleveland Heights, OH
As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm curious about how people handle their old favorites.  Do you skip it entirely?  Make a modified version that's lower in fat/calories/sugar?  Or indulge in a small portion of the real thing? 

My old favorites are my Mom's bread stuffing and homemade lemon meringue pie.  Me, I choose to indulge in small portions of the real thing.  I'm very careful about portion sizes and I really focus on what I'm eating, enjoying and savoring these special treats... 

I also try to give away most of the leftovers or, if we cook at home, to send everyone else home with leftover goodie bags. 

Anyway, thought this might make an interesting discussion thread - chime in if you're interested!

Kellie
(deactivated member)
on 11/19/08 7:28 am - San Antonio, TX
Last year I had a bite or two of whatever I wanted. This year pouchy is larger and more experienced. I will focus on filling up on the healthier options (I'm cooking so I'll make sure some of the menu is suitable for me) and then indulge in a bite or two of the things I want most - like mashed potatoes with butter and half and half, and pumpkin pie.  I am making a salad, a small amount of turkey (most of family is vegan) and 3-4 veggie entrees so between all of that who has room for stuffing and taters? I am also skipping gravy in favor of a rich broth for dipping. There is nothing redeeming nutrionally about gravy. I am making two desserts, pumpkin pie and bourbon balls. Neither is a great choice, which is why I'll have just a smidge. The last thing I want is to get sick with family around!
Clirishu
on 11/19/08 8:42 am - LA
 My plan is modify.  My family has been really receptive to the modifications so that makes it easier on us all.
Jupiter6
on 11/19/08 11:12 am - Near Media, Pa- South of Philly, NJ
I'll probably eat any and everything that's not nailed down... it's a true food holiday for us, and so's Friday. We'll probably have turkey and sweet potatoes and green bean casserole-- also pumpkin cream cheese dip and crispy cinnamon tortillas-- neither SigOt nor I dump, so we'll have the real deal. Also gonna make some kind of peanut butter oatmeal bars. Then Friday we'll go out to dinner and eat some appetizers of doom. And by Saturday we'll be back to what works...until Christmas! ;)

 "Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert  Lap RNY 7/07-- Lap Gallbladder 5/08--  
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Guate Wife
on 11/19/08 12:04 pm - Grand Rapids, MI
I'm with Jupiter6 -- I will be showing up early, eating everything I can stuff in, and taking home leftovers!!
Last Thanksgiving was miserable for me.  I was already on my 2 week pre-op diet, and didn't cheat even once.  Still on the post-op regimen at Christmas & New Years, so this year I will indulge all I can.
At this phase in my weight loss, the more I eat, the more I lose.  Weird, but true!


       ~ I am the proud wife of a Guatemalan, but most people call me Kimberley
Highest Known Weight  =  370#  /  59.7 bmi  @  5'6"

Current Weight  =  168#  /  26.4 bmi  :  fluctuates 5# either way  @  5'7"  /  more than 90% EWL
Normal BMI (24.9)  =  159#:  would have to compromise my muscle mass to get here without plastics, so this is not a goal.


I   my DS.    Don't go into WLS without knowing ALL of your options:  DSFacts.com

(deactivated member)
on 11/19/08 10:04 pm - Hagerstown, MD
Well I know last year, I threw an "orphan's" thanksgiving dinner for my friends who weren't or have no home to go to for the holidays.  I made 4 big turkey breasts and about two gallons of stuffing, cranberry mousse, greenbean casserole, about 100 home made biscuits and a huge mound of mashed potatoes and a brown sugar/cinnamon/pumpkin trifle.

This year, I'm not doing anything because of finances so I'll just have a regular meal of maybe two chicken tenderloins baked with some fat free chicken gravy and that's about it for me LOL
IAMASWEETHEART44
on 11/19/08 10:45 pm - aurora, IN
We have 4 thanksgivings to attend..
The only 1 that will be hard is the one i fix because i think i have to taste everything..lol
I hate pumpkin pie so we are having that they love it..
I think ill try to fill my pouch with turkey so that it leaves no room for the things i dont need....no sweet potatoes...

kellyhilde
on 11/20/08 12:09 am - Grand Rapids, MI
We have thanksgiving at our house. My mother in law is bringing dessert, but I have asked my mom to make me a sugar free chocolate pudding pie (which is my fav dessert anyways). So I wont be tempted by the dessert my MIL is buying. As far as the other stuff goes, I am not sure yet. I will try and fill up on turkey and not be tempted by the other stuff.

It will be a little hard because my parents will be there and they know I had surgery. But my inlaws, who will also be there, don't know that I had surgery. And thanksgiving will only be the 2nd time they have seen me since my surgery.

Kelly
347/228/200


 

Felicia S
on 11/20/08 2:17 am - Billings, MT

I plan to eat anything I want. I still can only eat about a cup -ish at a sitting so I am not worried about eating to much. I am going Full Fat, Full Sugar, Full Calorie. Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese, Turkey and Gravy, Stuffing! OH MY! I worked really hard to not get back into diet mode and its worked great for me. I eat smaller portions when I don't feel like I am "limiting" myself. Its a mind game of course lol but it works for me. OH and don't forget the Pumpkin pie!

 

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Turkey day!

*huggles*
Felicia =0) 

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Total Loss To Date: -262lbs
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Jandell
on 11/20/08 3:38 am - Glendora, CA
I modify everything. We have a family full of diabetics so everything I cook/bake can be eaten by them too.

This will be the first Thanksgiving in what seems like ever where I won't have to do a thing but sit back and enjoy! Heck I don't have to even do dishes!!  Whoo hoo
Jan
I know I can, I know I can
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