Thanksgiving Dinner is Good For You!

Since the past few weeks I've received flurries of press releases on how to cut the calories out of Thanksgiving dinner, it was refreshing to see this article posted on the SupermarketGuru.com. It pointed out that some of the Thanksgiving staples are actually packed with nutrition (although I suspect that when they're swimming in gravy, butter and cream, they can't really be considered "health food.") 

As one of my foodie friends pointed out, Thanksgiving is just one day of the year, so enjoy it. That doesn't mean we need to have three or four helpings until we're rolling from the table! But we can slowly savor every bite of your favorite dishes as we enjoy friends and family and offer thanks for the many wonderful things in our lives. 

I think my downfall isn't the meal itself, but the post-dinner snacking, where I'll polish off another helping of mashed potatoes while I'm loading the dishwasher, and grab another piece of pie just because it's there!

Here's some of the nutrition you're getting in your Thanksgiving dinner:

Turkey is a great source of lean protein, selenium, niacin, vitamin B6 and phosphorous, as well as tryptophan that is essential for appetite and mood regulation. 

Cranberries contain vitamin C, fiber, manganese and vitamin K and are known for their help in maintaining a healthy urinary tract. 

Potatoes contain vitamin C, B6, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, protein and fiber- as well as a variety of antioxidants. Keep the skin on because that is where many of the nutrients are found.

Pecans contain vitamins A and E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, several B vitamins and zinc. They also contain fiber and protein, and are a good source of heart healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats.  The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that, “pecans rank highest among all nuts and are among the top category of foods to contain the highest antioxidant capacity.”

Pumpkin contains potassium, zinc, dietary fiber and the bright orange color indicates that pumpkin is rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is great for our eyesight and more.