Thanksgiving Lessons

It's the day after Thanksgiving and I have no regrets. Can you believe it?

After much consideration, I decided not to alter my Thanksgiving meal. All my recipes remained intact. I could not bring myself to change 13 years worth of work.

The only change to our Thanksgiving menu was the addition of steamed broccoli. I decided that I wanted a healthier alternative to the usual Broccoli casserole. It was an easy addition. Why not?

Then I had a big revelation...just because there was all this food on our Thanksgiving table, I didn't need to eat everything during that meal or even that day. I could enjoy all the foods I had prepared for the holiday without any guilt, as long as I spread the bounty. Whoa! How simple & reasonable is that? So, this became my plan for holiday weight loss success.

When we sat down to dinner, I was prepared and able to enjoy my meal. While I concentrated on the vegetables--the Corn & Celery dish & steamed broccoli--adding a modest portion of stuffing along side the turkey didn't leave me guilt ridden. Since passing up on the mashed potatoes & rolls, I was able to enjoy the indulgence of a small portion of sweet potatoes too.

Leaving the table, I was not stuffed & uncomfortable. Instead, I was proud of my accomplishment. In fact, I hadn't felt deprived at all. Instead, I knew that I would be enjoying some other favorites later. How amazing is that?

That evening, I had a turkey sandwich using one of my butterhorn rolls. I love these rolls! They are delicious! Plus, they make a delicious sandwich when paired with the turkey. It's one of the things I look forward to most when it comes to Thanksgiving leftovers. It's working!

However, passing up the pumpkin pie entirely Thursday didn't quite work out as planned. Instead, Jay allowed me to have a bite of his pie. Just enough to please the palate with none of the guilt of an entire slice.

Having not only survived, but excelled, in overcoming the hurdle that is Thanksgiving, I feel empowered. Encouraged even!

Next hurdle...Christmas cookies & Dad's Peanut Butter Fudge.

To quote a favorite cartoon character...'I'm ready!'