Healthy Thanksgiving Tips

Healthy Thanksgiving Tips with Dr. Ro

Beat the Bulge - It’s hard to stay away from those deliciously prepared foods during Thanksgiving, but do you really want to have to hit the gym three times as hard just to pay for your holiday gorging? We hooked up with Dr Ro, the magnificent nutritionist behind Sherri Shepherd’s fab new body, to get tips on how to enjoy your grandmother’s sweet potato pie and still be health-conscious. Dig in!

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Beat the Bulge - It’s hard to stay away from those deliciously prepared foods during Thanksgiving, but do you really want to have to hit the gym three times as hard just to pay for your holiday gorging? We hooked up with Dr Ro, the magnificent nutritionist behind Sherri Shepherd’s fab new body, to get tips on how to enjoy your grandmother’s sweet potato pie and still be health-conscious. Dig in!

Stay Away? - I don't believe in "absolutely" staying away from any food. If you love bacon, for example, crumble a small amount on top of your collards, like a condiment. If you love desserts, take a sliver each of apple, pecan and pumpkin pie. No harm in that!

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Stay Away? - I don't believe in "absolutely" staying away from any food. If you love bacon, for example, crumble a small amount on top of your collards, like a condiment. If you love desserts, take a sliver each of apple, pecan and pumpkin pie. No harm in that!

Portion Control - Eat your salad first. Drink a whole glass of water while you eat. Use portion control initially: Your plate should be about 3/4 filled with vegetables and 1/4 with carbs such as stuffing, rice or pasta, and one slice of meat (3-4 ounces). Use gravy very sparingly. Set your fork down between bites and savor the conversation.

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Portion Control - Eat your salad first. Drink a whole glass of water while you eat. Use portion control initially: Your plate should be about 3/4 filled with vegetables and 1/4 with carbs such as stuffing, rice or pasta, and one slice of meat (3-4 ounces). Use gravy very sparingly. Set your fork down between bites and savor the conversation.

Gorge Be Gone! - Eating large portions of fatty foods bogs down your metabolism and puts all your digestive organs into overdrive. That's why you feel tired after a big meal. Your body is working as hard as it can to process all that excess fuel and store that excess fat. You may also experience heartburn or a stomach ache after a high-fat meal...

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Gorge Be Gone! - Eating large portions of fatty foods bogs down your metabolism and puts all your digestive organs into overdrive. That's why you feel tired after a big meal. Your body is working as hard as it can to process all that excess fuel and store that excess fat. You may also experience heartburn or a stomach ache after a high-fat meal...

Bloated Belly - The following foods go right to your stomach and thighs! Buttery mashed white potatoes, bread stuffing, gravy, macaroni and cheese (unless it's my low-fat recipe), white bread and fatty, sugary desserts such as cakes, mousses and ice cream.

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Bloated Belly - The following foods go right to your stomach and thighs! Buttery mashed white potatoes, bread stuffing, gravy, macaroni and cheese (unless it's my low-fat recipe), white bread and fatty, sugary desserts such as cakes, mousses and ice cream.

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Sweet Treat - Try making mashed, unpeeled sweet potatoes with orange juice, a sprinkle of brown sugar, skim milk and reduced fat butter. Or, for a baked casserole, toss cubed sweet potatoes with cubed Granny Smith apples, raisins, and unsweetened apple juice. Sprinkle with a little blackstrap molasses, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Bake for a nutritious, guilt-free side dish.

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Sweet Treat - Try making mashed, unpeeled sweet potatoes with orange juice, a sprinkle of brown sugar, skim milk and reduced fat butter. Or, for a baked casserole, toss cubed sweet potatoes with cubed Granny Smith apples, raisins, and unsweetened apple juice. Sprinkle with a little blackstrap molasses, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Bake for a nutritious, guilt-free side dish.

Leafy Love - If Southern-cooked greens are part of your holiday tradition, that usually means overcooked greens swimming in bacon fat. Instead, cut kale or collards into strips, and stir-fry in defatted chicken or vegetable broth. Throw in onions, garlic, cayenne, herbs such as thyme and basil, and a dash of liquid smoke (for bacon flavor). Let the greens wilt and cook for 15 min. They should stay bright green, not brown.

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Leafy Love - If Southern-cooked greens are part of your holiday tradition, that usually means overcooked greens swimming in bacon fat. Instead, cut kale or collards into strips, and stir-fry in defatted chicken or vegetable broth. Throw in onions, garlic, cayenne, herbs such as thyme and basil, and a dash of liquid smoke (for bacon flavor). Let the greens wilt and cook for 15 min. They should stay bright green, not brown.

Ro-Style "Mac" - Melt low-fat margarine in a 2-quart casserole dish. Toss in a package of uncooked whole wheat elbow macaroni, and pour 5 cups skim milk mixed with an 8-oz package of reduced fat shredded cheddar. Stir in salt, pepper, paprika, and 1/2 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours, until bubbly and brown.

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Ro-Style "Mac" - Melt low-fat margarine in a 2-quart casserole dish. Toss in a package of uncooked whole wheat elbow macaroni, and pour 5 cups skim milk mixed with an 8-oz package of reduced fat shredded cheddar. Stir in salt, pepper, paprika, and 1/2 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours, until bubbly and brown.

A Better Bird - Instead of bread stuffing, which is mostly non-nutritious, refined white flour and butter, stuff your bird with mixed-grain pilaf. Substitute cooked quinoa, kasha, and/or wild rice for the bread cubes in your stuffing. Use nonfat chicken broth instead of butter. Don't forget to spice it up with sage and other delicious herbs—yum!

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A Better Bird - Instead of bread stuffing, which is mostly non-nutritious, refined white flour and butter, stuff your bird with mixed-grain pilaf. Substitute cooked quinoa, kasha, and/or wild rice for the bread cubes in your stuffing. Use nonfat chicken broth instead of butter. Don't forget to spice it up with sage and other delicious herbs—yum!

Spicy Side - Add whole-kernel corn to your bread. Throw in a handful of chopped red and green bell peppers and maybe a dash of minced jalapeño peppers for extra zest. Substitute nonfat yogurt for the oil in the recipe.

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Spicy Side - Add whole-kernel corn to your bread. Throw in a handful of chopped red and green bell peppers and maybe a dash of minced jalapeño peppers for extra zest. Substitute nonfat yogurt for the oil in the recipe.

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Walk Your Pooch - If you overindulge this Thanksgiving, the very best thing you can do for your body is to take a brisk walk within three hours of eating, when the calories in the food are still available to burn. You can avoid (and cure) bloating and stomach aches with a post-Thanksgiving meal walk as well.

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Walk Your Pooch - If you overindulge this Thanksgiving, the very best thing you can do for your body is to take a brisk walk within three hours of eating, when the calories in the food are still available to burn. You can avoid (and cure) bloating and stomach aches with a post-Thanksgiving meal walk as well.

About Dr. Ro - Dr. Ro is an award-winning nutritionist, fitness coach, and author of “Dr. Ro's Ten Secrets to Livin' Healthy” (Bantam Dell).

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About Dr. Ro - Dr. Ro is an award-winning nutritionist, fitness coach, and author of “Dr. Ro's Ten Secrets to Livin' Healthy” (Bantam Dell).

More Ro - Her television credits are many, and include being the longtime host of BET's “Heart & Soul” and NBC's “Morning Show” out of DC, nutrition advisor to “The Today Show” and NPR, and a featured guest on “Dr. Oz.”

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More Ro - Her television credits are many, and include being the longtime host of BET's “Heart & Soul” and NBC's “Morning Show” out of DC, nutrition advisor to “The Today Show” and NPR, and a featured guest on “Dr. Oz.”