Thanksgiving used to seem so short because I'd cook for hours and hours and then in 30 minutes or less we were actually done with the meal. Our Thanksgiving is longer now. It's not just Thanksgiving Day, but Thanksgiving weekend. We make it last in our family. It starts with me cooking all day while the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and football play in the background and listening to the sounds of the 4 men in my life doing various and sundry things. At our meal we all go around the table and say what we are thankful for and why. After dinner, a walk, and then (drumroll)...Punkin' Chunkin'. Fun, fun, fun! The rest of the weekend is ours to spend together just hanging out. We took the kids bowling today and I channeled my inner Dude. What I discovered is that I need to listen to more bowling to really get myself Zen with the ball. We had a great time. Other things we do are Poker games, movies, hot chocloate and smores over a fierpit in the backyard. Good times...good times.
As a vegetarian, I do not eat the turkey, but I do indulge in all the sides. It's a very carb heavy meal though and I don't veganize anything. It is clearly more carbs and sugar than I get in a month, but boy, is it worth it! Next year, I'm going to try one new vegetable dish of some sort with our regular meal. And while I did eat my weight in Julie's Sweet Potatoes and our family's sage dressing with gravy, I did not eat any desserts. Alot of people prepare much healthier Thanksgiving menus than I do, and they like it, and that's okay. For me, though, no matter what, I want what is traditional for me just minus the meat. I feel like it is a holiday, and so if I get a little more sugar than ususal, that's okay because 90 % of the time I eat much healthier. I don't think one meal will derail me in any meaningful way from my healthier lifestyle goals. And I am not a food monk. When I think of healthier Thanksgiving meals, I think of the Everybody Loves Raymond episode where Marie, on a health kick, tried to serve the family Tofu turkey. I am not a fan of tofu, nor am I dissing tofu for those who want to eat it, but it doesn't mean Thanksgivng to me.
I guess I go back to Everything in Moderation when I deal with Holiday eating. It's just how I roll...
So, regardless if yours was a vegan, vegetrian, nutritarian, weight watchers, south beach, standard American diet Thanksgiving or whatever, I hope it was the best and that it was filled with food, family , and happy memories.
