New & Improved Thanksgiving Menu (D.D.)
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New & Improved Thanksgiving Menu (D.D.)
| Wed, 11-17-2004 - 6:52am |
New-and-Improved Thanksgiving Menu
If you're determined to do Thanksgiving on The South Beach Dietâ„¢, you'll need a plan of attack and a revised menu. Here are South Beach alternatives to all of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes:
Roast turkey = Nothing unhealthy here!
Stuffing = (Phase 2) Use whole-wheat bread and add mushrooms, garlic, nuts, beans, or eggplant.
Gravy = Use the pan drippings with the fat skimmed off, and replace cornstarch with a small amount of arrowroot.
Cranberry relish = Replace sugar with sugar substitute (for a recipe, visit the Thanksgiving section of The South Beach Dietâ„¢ Online). Those in Phase 2 and beyond can try blending other whole fruits, such as oranges, to balance the tart flavor of cranberries.
Mashed potatoes = Whip up a batch of South Beach "Surprise" Mashed Potatoes (you'll find the recipe online).
Side dishes = This is a great opportunity to boost your take of fresh vegetables. Try roasted green beans with slivered almonds, or saute some spinach with garlic and olive oil.
If you're determined to do Thanksgiving on The South Beach Dietâ„¢, you'll need a plan of attack and a revised menu. Here are South Beach alternatives to all of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes:
Roast turkey = Nothing unhealthy here!
Stuffing = (Phase 2) Use whole-wheat bread and add mushrooms, garlic, nuts, beans, or eggplant.
Gravy = Use the pan drippings with the fat skimmed off, and replace cornstarch with a small amount of arrowroot.
Cranberry relish = Replace sugar with sugar substitute (for a recipe, visit the Thanksgiving section of The South Beach Dietâ„¢ Online). Those in Phase 2 and beyond can try blending other whole fruits, such as oranges, to balance the tart flavor of cranberries.
Mashed potatoes = Whip up a batch of South Beach "Surprise" Mashed Potatoes (you'll find the recipe online).
Side dishes = This is a great opportunity to boost your take of fresh vegetables. Try roasted green beans with slivered almonds, or saute some spinach with garlic and olive oil.
Pumpkin pie = The South Beach Diet™ Online has a number of clever alternatives, including Pumpkin Spice Ricotta Crème (Phase 1) and Individual Pumpkin Soufflés (Phase 2 and beyond).


Here are some of the recipes that were mentioned in the previous Thanksgiving Daily Dish post:
Jellied Cranberries
Serves 8
Ingredients
1 envelope (four 1/2-cup servings) sugar-free cranberry gelatin
3/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
ice cubes
2 cups fresh cranberries
2 teaspoons orange zest
Instructions
Stir boiling water into gelatin powder in medium bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Measure ½ cup of cold water and add enough ice cubes to make 1 ¼ cups ice water. Add cold water and ice cubes to gelatin. Stir until slightly thickened. Remove any remaining ice. Set aside.
Add cranberries and orange zest to bowl of food processor or blender. Process until finely chopped (do not puree). Add to dissolved gelatin. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate until set (about 3 hours).
Nutritional Information:
57.52 calories
0 total fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono)
0 mg cholesterol
3.5 g carbohydrate
4.25 g protein
1 g fiber
297.66 mg sodium
Surprise South Beach Mashed Potatoes
Serves 2
Ingredients
2 cups cauliflower florets
1/2 ounce butter-flavored spray
1/2 ounce fat-free half & half
Pinch salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Steam or microwave the cauliflower until soft. Puree in a food processor, adding the butter spray and the half-and-half to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
Nutritional Information:
81 calories
8 total fat (2 g sat, 6 g mono)
4 mg cholesterol
5 g carbohydrate
2 g protein
3 g fiber
82 mg sodium
Individual Pumpkin Souffles
Serves 8
Ingredients
2 whole eggs
2 egg whites
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin
1/4 cup fructose or sucralose
pinch salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/4 cup evaporated skim milk
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
Fat-free whipped topping (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 300°F. Lightly spray 8 4-ounce ramekins with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, lightly beat eggs and egg whites. Add the pumpkin and mix well. Blend in the fructose or sucralose, salt, cinnamon, evaporated milk, and vanilla. Fill each ramekin with 1/2 cup mixture. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and add enough warm water to come 2/3 of the way up the cups. Bake 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center of custard comes out clean. Remove from oven. Serve warm or room temperature and top with fat-free whipped topping, if desired.
Nutritional Information:
66.93 calories
1.93 total fat (0.49 g sat, 1.44 g mono)
54.48 mg cholesterol
7.79 g carbohydrate
5.92 g protein
1.11 g fiber
79.28 mg sodium