Thursday, 26 November 2009

• How to Eat a Healthy Thanksgiving Turkey!

  
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  We all know how hard it can be to resist that delicious - yet fattening - second portion of Thanksgiving turkey.

  Now, thanks to a press release from Harvard University, here are a few tips on how to eat healthy amount of turkey on Thanksgiving!

  • "If you are looking for a lean cut of meat, turkey is hard to beat. A 3-ounce serving of skinless white meat contains 25 grams of protein, barely 3 grams of fat, and less than 1 gram of saturated fat.
  • Dark meat has more saturated fat than white meat, and eating the skin adds a hefty wallop of these bad fats.
  • Turkey is also a good source of arginine. As with other amino acids, the body uses this one to make new protein. Arginine is also the raw material for making nitric oxide, a substance that relaxes and opens arteries. Whether foods rich in arginine help keep arteries open has prompted both research and debate."

  And don't forget a couple of obvious ways to eat healthily on Thanksgiving:

  • Don't overindulge. You're likely to have leftovers, so instead of overeating in one day, take the time to enjoy it over the course of a few days.
  • If you feel like having seconds, enjoy more vegetables than starches. Eating plates and plates of biscuits and mashed potatoes is going to pack on carbs and calories, while eating vegetables will add vitamins and minerals.
  • Go easy on the condiments and toppings. Adding tons of butter or gravy during dinner - or whipped cream during dessert - will hurt your calorie intake. Instead, enjoy simple dishes and savor the natural flavors.

  More importantly than eating healthy on Thanksgiving, don't forget to enjoy your day with your family and friends. While a healthy body is important, a healthy mind and soul can be taken care of just through the company of loved ones.

  Happy Thanksgiving!

   

  For the full press release from Harvard University, see here.

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