Weight Loss Thanksgiving Menu at The BariatricPal Store
Are you ready for Thanksgiving next week? The plans include where you will be, who will be there, and what you will need to cook or bring. Have you also made your plans for what to eat? Skinless roast turkey is a great start, as it is carb-free, lean, and high-protein, but what will you eat with it? A plate filled with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and creamy casserole can have 1,000 or more calories before going for seconds or having dessert.
It is not worth it! Instead, opt for some swaps available at The BariatricPal Store. Here are a few of our ideas.
Stuffing
Eating a stuffed turkey can make you feel like a stuffed turkey yourself, as each serving of bread-based stuffing has about 20 grams of carbohydrates. Instead of high-carb cornbread stuffing in your turkey, Low-Carb Cornbread baking mix can be base for a low-carb stuffing. Each serving has 5 grams of dietary fiber and 1 gram of net carbs, along with 80 calories.
Make the cornbread with water or milk, then let it dry and add your favorite ingredients, such as thyme, sage, sausage, nuts, cranberries, celery, and onions, for a delicious, guilt-free stuffing. Each box has 12 servings.
Green Bean Casserole
What are you serving with your turkey and stuffing? You may want to beg your family to have a traditional green bean casserole, since it is creamy, satisfying, and oh-so-healthy. The regular recipe may not be a true “vegetable,” but your overhauled green bean casserole can truly be healthy with a few substitutions to the regular recipe.
First, using Cream of Mushroom Protein Soup instead of full-fat cream of mushroom soup can add 15 grams of protein per serving without a load of fat. Then, Pork Panko breadcrumbs are a carb-free alternative to regular breadcrumbs, and with ingredients including pork rind and sea salt, you can bet that they add a ton of flavor to any casserole.
Pork Panko comes in 3-ounce and 16-ounce bags, and each of those is available in a single pack or 6-bag pack. Cream of Mushroom Protein Soup is available in boxes of 7 single-serving packets.
Mashed Potatoes
Thanksgiving may not be complete without mashed potatoes, but why should your waistline take the hit? A cup of mashed potatoes can have 30 grams of carbohydrates. The extra starch is not what you need on Thanksgiving! Instead, Protein Mashed Potatoes have only 13 grams of net carbs per serving, along with 3 grams of dietary fiber and 11 grams of protein.
They come in single-serving packets that you can make with just water for a great-tasting, instant side dish. Protein Mashed Potatoes come in Sour Cream and Chives and Garlic flavors. You can also turn them into a casserole with ingredients such as parmesan or cheddar cheese, diced broccoli florets, or Pork Panko.
Thanksgiving can be a delicious holiday that includes gratitude for health and weight loss, and the menu can reflect your good intentions. Eat up, enjoy, and have a wonderful, guilt-free holiday!
