- Nov
- 22
- 2016
Staying Fit & Festive During the Holidays
Food and nutrition staff at Plainview and Syosset hospitals recently held a Teaching Kitchen – coaching employees on how to cook healthy during the holiday season. “The average American eats around 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day – that’s around 2.5 pounds of food,” says Eric Sieden, director of the department.
Oh my!
Skim the team’s tips below before you print out your shopping list this year:
Roast Turkey (skin on) and Gravy: 3.5 ounces of white meat has 1.6 grams of fat and about 161 calories – add a 1/2 cup of gravy and that adds 206 calories (35 minutes on the treadmill)
Healthy Tip: Go skinless – this can cut half the caloriesBread Stuffing: 1/2 cup of stuffing has 8 grams of fat, 180 calories, and 21.6 total grams of carbohydrates (18 minutes on the treadmill)
Healthy Tip: Add more veggies to extend the amount you’re preparing therefore using less bread in the process – whole wheat bread is a healthier optionCandied Yams: 1/2 cup of sweet potatoes has 1 gram of fat, 180 calories, and 52 grams of carbohydrates (18 minutes on the treadmill)
Healthy Tip: Cook with skim milk instead of whole or 2% milk – yams will be just as creamy and you’ll save up to 70 caloriesGreen Bean Casserole: One serving of homemade green bean casserole has 6 grams of fat, 150 calories and 11 total grams of carbohydrates (35 minutes on the treadmill)
Healthy Cooking Tip: Use milk and add your own mushrooms and seasonings rather than going the traditional route and adding Cream of Mushroom soup and you’ll save up to 55 caloriesCanned Cranberry Sauce: One 1/2 cup of canned cranberry sauce has 0 grams of fat, 190 calories, and 22 total grams of carbohydrates (20 minutes in the treadmill).
Healthy Tip: Make your own with fresh cranberries – sweeten with orange juice instead of refined sugarPecan Pie: One slice has 27 grams of fat, 503 calories, and 63 total grams of carbohydrates (60 minutes in the treadmill)
Healthy Tip: If you must have pie, consider pumpkin with a low fat crust – pumpkin pie has 10 grams less sugar and almost half of the carbs over pecan
Submitted by:
Eric Sieden, Director, Nutrition and Food Services Glen Cove, Plainview and Syosset Hospitals
There’s still time to join the Fit & Festive wellness challenge on myWellness. Track your steps once a week and you will earn reward points and unlock holiday wellness tips along the way!
Here’s to a happy and healthy Thanksgiving to all!
super information!!!
thank you.
Thanks for the tips Eric!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I don’t really count calories, but those statistics were eye opening. I often do over 25,000 steps (especially on the weekends). Nutrition, combined with exercise, is the way to stay Fit and Festive for the holidays.