3 Recipes for a Thinner Thanksgiving
In this post I’ll show you 3 Recipes for a Thinner Thanksgiving. I'm also excited to share the first ever Thanksgiving Special for The Fit and Fearless Body Group Coaching Program. This is a major deal and a unique gift for you or someone you love who wants to live a healthier lifestyle and clean the toxic clutter from their life. If you're interested in learning how I can help you shed those extra pounds for the holidays and keep them off, read on.
Okay, there is no denying it, Thanksgiving is centered around food. If your family is like mine, you prep for the largest meal of the year with, what? MORE FOOD. From 8am on, the table is filled with endless snacks and appetizers. When you finally sit down to dinner, you’re already too stuffed to eat. But wait…it’s Thanksgiving so full doesn’t count. We shovel food in without even thinking. Then we deal with the repercussions after dinner when we feel like we we've been run over by a truck and suffer from a second day “food hangover” on black friday.
When I became aware of what is actually in the food I eat and how specific foods make me feel, I stopped eating to eat and started eating with a purpose. My purpose is to feel and function at my best all day, every day. Functioning at my best doesn’t include feeling so uncomfortably full that I’m not fun to be around and can’t enjoy the people I love spending time with. So what should you do to make the most of your holiday meal? Restrict yourself and avoid the foods you look forward to every Thanksgiving? No way! Rather, try filling your plate with mostly healthy ingredients like the 3 foods I'm highlighting below. The truth is, unhealthy food that lacks nutrients will drain you and drag you down. If this food is something you look forward to every year, choose smaller sizes. Try this ratio, your plate should be 80% nutritious foods and 20% indulgence. This allows you to have Grandma's pie (made with lots of love and lots of sugar) and still wake up the next morning feeling great. Try adding more of the powerful foods listed below to your appetizers too!
When I became aware of what is actually in the food I eat and how specific foods make me feel, I stopped eating to eat and started eating with a purpose. My purpose is to feel and function at my best all day, every day. Functioning at my best doesn’t include feeling so uncomfortably full that I’m not fun to be around and can’t enjoy the people I love spending time with. So what should you do to make the most of your holiday meal? Restrict yourself and avoid the foods you look forward to every Thanksgiving? No way! Rather, try filling your plate with mostly healthy ingredients like the 3 foods I'm highlighting below. The truth is, unhealthy food that lacks nutrients will drain you and drag you down. If this food is something you look forward to every year, choose smaller sizes. Try this ratio, your plate should be 80% nutritious foods and 20% indulgence. This allows you to have Grandma's pie (made with lots of love and lots of sugar) and still wake up the next morning feeling great. Try adding more of the powerful foods listed below to your appetizers too!
1. SWEET POTATOS
The Facts:
The sweet potato is considered one of the most nutritious vegetables. They are loaded with nutrients that help fight cancer such as folate, vitamin C and beta-carotene. Vitamin A, found in beta-carotene, is an antioxidant that boosts immunity, helps with asthma, infertility, depression, psoriasis and arthritis. That’s a powerful potato! Sweet potatoes are also high in fiber, found in the potato skin. These vegetables are naturally delicious because of the high sugar content, have virtually no fat and absolutely no cholesterol. Additionally, the high Vitamin B6 helps balance your mood and helps you fight the blues.
Bonus:
Sweet vegetables like sweet potatoes help naturally curb sweet cravings!
Sweet Potato VS. White Potato:
White potatoes come from the nightshade family which are known to cause inflammation. Inflammation is the cause of many brain, bone, and skin problems. The Sweet potato is not in the nightshade family and actually contains quercetin, a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
The sweet potato is considered one of the most nutritious vegetables. They are loaded with nutrients that help fight cancer such as folate, vitamin C and beta-carotene. Vitamin A, found in beta-carotene, is an antioxidant that boosts immunity, helps with asthma, infertility, depression, psoriasis and arthritis. That’s a powerful potato! Sweet potatoes are also high in fiber, found in the potato skin. These vegetables are naturally delicious because of the high sugar content, have virtually no fat and absolutely no cholesterol. Additionally, the high Vitamin B6 helps balance your mood and helps you fight the blues.
Bonus:
Sweet vegetables like sweet potatoes help naturally curb sweet cravings!
Sweet Potato VS. White Potato:
White potatoes come from the nightshade family which are known to cause inflammation. Inflammation is the cause of many brain, bone, and skin problems. The Sweet potato is not in the nightshade family and actually contains quercetin, a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
RECIPE
SWEET POTATO FRIES
A Delicious Twist On The Traditional Thanksgiving Sweet Potato
INGREDIENTS
- One Large Sweet Potato or Yam
- 2 Tbsp Cold Pressed Organic Coconut Oil
- Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Garlic and Onion Powder
- Pre-heat oven to 425. Rinse and chop sweet potatoes into fries.
- Coat sweet potatoes with coconut oil.
- Place tin foil over a pan and separate sweet potatoes into three sections.
- Sprinkle one section with sea salt and black pepper. Sprinkle the next section with cinnamon and the last section with garlic and onion powder. Bake for 40 minutes or until browned.
| | 2. GREEN BEANS | |
The Facts:
A natural green powerhouse! I eat green beans when I need energy. I love them because they always improve my mood. They are low in calories unlike most other items on the Thanksgiving table. Green beans are also a rich source of dietary fiber, which quickly eliminates the toxins most commonly found in processed foods. The fiber in green beans also helps you digest that big meal and balances blood sugar so you don’t have an energy crash afterwards. Just like our orange buddy, the sweet potato, green beans also contain excellent levels of vitamin A with health promoting antioxidants. Green beans are naturally high in vitamin C, which helps the body to develop resistance against infectious agents and toxins.
Bonus:
Green beans contain high amounts of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium, which are essential for metabolism and for maintaining a healthy weight.
A natural green powerhouse! I eat green beans when I need energy. I love them because they always improve my mood. They are low in calories unlike most other items on the Thanksgiving table. Green beans are also a rich source of dietary fiber, which quickly eliminates the toxins most commonly found in processed foods. The fiber in green beans also helps you digest that big meal and balances blood sugar so you don’t have an energy crash afterwards. Just like our orange buddy, the sweet potato, green beans also contain excellent levels of vitamin A with health promoting antioxidants. Green beans are naturally high in vitamin C, which helps the body to develop resistance against infectious agents and toxins.
Bonus:
Green beans contain high amounts of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium, which are essential for metabolism and for maintaining a healthy weight.
RECIPE
GREEN BEANS ALMONDINE
INGREDIENTS
2 lbs. fresh green beans
2-4 cloves garlic
5-10 almonds, sliced
2 tbsp. olive oil
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
2 lbs. fresh green beans
2-4 cloves garlic
5-10 almonds, sliced
2 tbsp. olive oil
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
- Wash green beans. Steam for 5-10 minutes or until bright green. Saute garlic in olive or coconut oil. Add almonds. Toss green beans in this mixture to coat. Toast until fragrant. Top green beans with sautéed almonds and a sprinkle of sea salt.
3. CRANBERRIES
The Facts:
This little berry is a knock out! Cranberries add tons of juicy flavor to meals! They are a delicious go-to when you’re having a sweet craving. The anti-oxidants in cranberries help fight off cancer causing free-radicals and help prevent athlerosclerosis (clogged arteries) as well as lower LDL (bad cholesterol). They are also known to prevent age-related diseases like loss of memory, heart disease, ulcers, and even cavities. Cranberries are naturally low in calories, fat, and sodium; and being plant based, they're also cholesterol free.
Bonus:
Cranberries are an anti-inflammatory and are beneficial to heart health.
This little berry is a knock out! Cranberries add tons of juicy flavor to meals! They are a delicious go-to when you’re having a sweet craving. The anti-oxidants in cranberries help fight off cancer causing free-radicals and help prevent athlerosclerosis (clogged arteries) as well as lower LDL (bad cholesterol). They are also known to prevent age-related diseases like loss of memory, heart disease, ulcers, and even cavities. Cranberries are naturally low in calories, fat, and sodium; and being plant based, they're also cholesterol free.
Bonus:
Cranberries are an anti-inflammatory and are beneficial to heart health.
RECIPE
CRANBERRY RELISH
INGREDIENTS
1 container of fresh or package of frozen cranberries
1 large orange
3/4 cup stevia
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
Add whole cranberries and whole orange (with peel on) to a food processor. Blend until desired texture is achieved. Pour mixture into bowl and add stevia. Mix together. Place in refrigerator for 1 hour to chill.
Beware of sweet potato, green bean and cranberry dishes that are processed, cooked in heavy oils/butter and are overly cooked. As easy as it is to eat these foods in a healthy, nutritious way as we described above, it's also easy to prepare them in an unhealthy way. Be food smart, know what's in your food and eat for energy!
Did you like this post? Comment below and let me know what you're looking forward to eating this Thanksgiving.
Have a fearless day!
1 container of fresh or package of frozen cranberries
1 large orange
3/4 cup stevia
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
Add whole cranberries and whole orange (with peel on) to a food processor. Blend until desired texture is achieved. Pour mixture into bowl and add stevia. Mix together. Place in refrigerator for 1 hour to chill.
Beware of sweet potato, green bean and cranberry dishes that are processed, cooked in heavy oils/butter and are overly cooked. As easy as it is to eat these foods in a healthy, nutritious way as we described above, it's also easy to prepare them in an unhealthy way. Be food smart, know what's in your food and eat for energy!
Did you like this post? Comment below and let me know what you're looking forward to eating this Thanksgiving.
Have a fearless day!
What people are saying about health coaching with Steph:
“Before I started this program, I tried to loose weight like crazy but saw no results and didn’t understand why. |
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For more information on losing weight with The Fit and Fearless BODY Group Coaching Program visit the Group Coaching Page: http://bit.ly/11qUPxV.
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