HOW TO SURVIVE THANKSGIVING DINNER
Okay, so we all know it's all about the food, right? Well, on my first post-op Thanksgiving, I was only a couple of months out and still experimenting.
Although DVR didn't operate on my brain, wls DID kind of give me a new perspective on food. I traded quantity for quality. Since that time, whenever there's been a big, food-centered gathering, I try to eat only what I REALLY want and what I normally wouldn't have.
For instance, this Thanksgiving, what I REALLY want is some turkey with homemade gravy (even though I can generally have some sort of turkey all year long, I REALLY want the gravy!), so I'll have some white/dark meat with some gravy. Then, because my Mom's stuffing is DA BOMB, I'll have a little bit of that, along with some of her famous homemade mac & cheese - just a bit, though, because my pouch doesn't like pasta much.
As far as the rest, here's how I look at it - there's not much else on the table that's REALLY all that special, if you think about.
Except for.....................DESSERT!!! I know people are missing the pies and decadent desserts, but even if you're watching your sugar, there's no reason why you can't eat something that tastes just as decadent, but may be better for you.
For example:
Baked apples with whipped cream - Peel, core and chop apples - sprinkle liberally with Splenda and cinnamon to taste, put in a microwaveable bowl, add a little water, cover with plastic wrap. Nuke on high for 10-15 minutes, or until the apples are to your desired tenderness. I eat them in my Greek yogurt, but they're also really good just eaten warm, with either some Redi-Whip (once you've retrieved it from your bedroom night table), or some f/f half & half. Everyone else will be eating apple pie, but if you remember that your pouch may not like pie crust, you'll still be getting the best part of the pie. For some added crunch, you could crumble some Murray's S/F Vanilla Wafers or Ginger Snaps on top.
Pumpkin mousse - To a tub of light whipped cream cheese, add some canned pumpkin, some Splenda and pumpkin pie spice to taste, whip together and fold into an unthawed container of lite or s/f Cool Whip. This makes a great pudding - you can put this in a graham cracker crust and chill until set, you can layer it with crumbled s/f ginger snaps in pretty parfait glasses, or you can use it as a cookie dip for the vanilla wafers or ginger snaps.
Just because you might not be eating the same thing as everyone else, doesn't mean you can't really enjoy what you have. Plus, it'll all TASTE SO MUCH BETTER because you know that you're wearing or soon will be wearing, smaller clothes. And, I bet that as you dig into your pumpkin mousse parfait, someone eating pie will say, "Oooooh, what's that?"
So enjoy!! It DOESN'T have to be all about the food. Just be thankful that you're surrounded by happy, healthy (if not psychotic) loved ones, you've given yourself the gift of wls, and all can be right in your world!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm thankful for all of you!!!!
Hugs,
Tia
Although DVR didn't operate on my brain, wls DID kind of give me a new perspective on food. I traded quantity for quality. Since that time, whenever there's been a big, food-centered gathering, I try to eat only what I REALLY want and what I normally wouldn't have.
For instance, this Thanksgiving, what I REALLY want is some turkey with homemade gravy (even though I can generally have some sort of turkey all year long, I REALLY want the gravy!), so I'll have some white/dark meat with some gravy. Then, because my Mom's stuffing is DA BOMB, I'll have a little bit of that, along with some of her famous homemade mac & cheese - just a bit, though, because my pouch doesn't like pasta much.
As far as the rest, here's how I look at it - there's not much else on the table that's REALLY all that special, if you think about.
Except for.....................DESSERT!!! I know people are missing the pies and decadent desserts, but even if you're watching your sugar, there's no reason why you can't eat something that tastes just as decadent, but may be better for you.
For example:
Baked apples with whipped cream - Peel, core and chop apples - sprinkle liberally with Splenda and cinnamon to taste, put in a microwaveable bowl, add a little water, cover with plastic wrap. Nuke on high for 10-15 minutes, or until the apples are to your desired tenderness. I eat them in my Greek yogurt, but they're also really good just eaten warm, with either some Redi-Whip (once you've retrieved it from your bedroom night table), or some f/f half & half. Everyone else will be eating apple pie, but if you remember that your pouch may not like pie crust, you'll still be getting the best part of the pie. For some added crunch, you could crumble some Murray's S/F Vanilla Wafers or Ginger Snaps on top.
Pumpkin mousse - To a tub of light whipped cream cheese, add some canned pumpkin, some Splenda and pumpkin pie spice to taste, whip together and fold into an unthawed container of lite or s/f Cool Whip. This makes a great pudding - you can put this in a graham cracker crust and chill until set, you can layer it with crumbled s/f ginger snaps in pretty parfait glasses, or you can use it as a cookie dip for the vanilla wafers or ginger snaps.
Just because you might not be eating the same thing as everyone else, doesn't mean you can't really enjoy what you have. Plus, it'll all TASTE SO MUCH BETTER because you know that you're wearing or soon will be wearing, smaller clothes. And, I bet that as you dig into your pumpkin mousse parfait, someone eating pie will say, "Oooooh, what's that?"
So enjoy!! It DOESN'T have to be all about the food. Just be thankful that you're surrounded by happy, healthy (if not psychotic) loved ones, you've given yourself the gift of wls, and all can be right in your world!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm thankful for all of you!!!!
Hugs,
Tia
Well, most of my cooking is done by eyeballing ingredients, unless I'm using a specific recipe.
So for the mousse, try this and adjust to suit your taste.
8 oz. whipped cream cheese
1/2 cup of pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix, which contains sugar)
Splenda to taste
Pumpkin pie spice to taste
Mix together and fold into an 8 oz. container of Lite or S/F Cool Whip
Like I said, just adjust it to your taste. Start out with just a little of the Splenda/spices and add from there - it's easier to add more than to try to take away.
Hugs,
Tia
So for the mousse, try this and adjust to suit your taste.
8 oz. whipped cream cheese
1/2 cup of pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix, which contains sugar)
Splenda to taste
Pumpkin pie spice to taste
Mix together and fold into an 8 oz. container of Lite or S/F Cool Whip
Like I said, just adjust it to your taste. Start out with just a little of the Splenda/spices and add from there - it's easier to add more than to try to take away.
Hugs,
Tia
Well, my sister has not had her baby yet (she was due on the 9th), so my mom is staying out in California until the 4th. My sister has to work the night before and the night of Thanksgiving, so it looks like I will be doing the majority of the cooking. Haven't decided on an exact menu, but at least now I can control now WLS-friendly it will be!
H
H
Tia - you bonked it right on the head!
I so know what I want for Tday! Mom's making it happen at her house - and here's what's gonna be on my plate - turkey, her stuffing (it's so out of this world!!!!!), collard greens, some more stuffing (it's so out of this world!!!!), her special salad, and maybe some more turkey meat, if I'm not busting at the band.
Mom's of course fixing everything else that usually goes on at Tday- and if I decide that I want to have some, it's only going to be a soup spoon full.
I'll try the pumpkin mousse but switch it up for the sweet potato in case Jerry wants to try some. :) Mom's already picked up some NSA ice cream for me, while she fixes Jerry his favorite Peach Cobbler.
I swear Mom's really trying to make sure that Jerry's thankful for her - but I have to keep reminding her, if it wasn't for her having me, he'd never have a wonderful wife like me, so it's her fault!
I so know what I want for Tday! Mom's making it happen at her house - and here's what's gonna be on my plate - turkey, her stuffing (it's so out of this world!!!!!), collard greens, some more stuffing (it's so out of this world!!!!), her special salad, and maybe some more turkey meat, if I'm not busting at the band.
Mom's of course fixing everything else that usually goes on at Tday- and if I decide that I want to have some, it's only going to be a soup spoon full.
I'll try the pumpkin mousse but switch it up for the sweet potato in case Jerry wants to try some. :) Mom's already picked up some NSA ice cream for me, while she fixes Jerry his favorite Peach Cobbler.
I swear Mom's really trying to make sure that Jerry's thankful for her - but I have to keep reminding her, if it wasn't for her having me, he'd never have a wonderful wife like me, so it's her fault!
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