Thanksgiving

OK...I have something to confess...are you ready?

For weeks, I had been DREADING the Thanksgiving holiday.  I'm not really sure why, because it is my most favorite holiday (hands down: I can assure you, if I did not have children, I would not even acknowledge Valentine's Day...I think it is a completely pointless holiday...and I could go on and on about it...but that is NOT my point!)  Thanksgiving Day has been my favorite holiday for a long time for a lot of reasons, but in recent years, it probably has more to do with the fact that it is one of two times in the year that my entire family gets together.  And for us, Thanksgiving is a major family reunion.  Both of my sisters and their families come and we all gather together to have a good time and make some memories. Of course, food is and always has been a major player in this family reunion, and I knew that this year would prove no exception. We have the all-time classics that come from my mother's-mother's-mother (that my sister now makes!) and then we have the more recent additions of mint brownies that my children start talking about weeks in advance!!

For me, this year was different, because I have worked really hard in the past few months to view food merely as fuel for my body, and not really as something that you adore or think about weeks in advance (this doesn't mean I don't still have my favorites, or even things I cannot say "no" to...I imagine I always will).  But, for this reason, I was probably more anxious than usual going to my parent's house for Thanksgiving, reminding myself that it is one meal on one day, and not really anything to be afraid of...still, I was stressed (and, yes, I know that "stressed" backwards is "desserts"...)

I "packed for success" for the weekend, taking raw almonds, frozen edamame, and several containers of Greek yogurt. I also had a nice stash of dark chocolate -- just in case! I knew that the key -- for me -- was in not allowing myself to feel deprived (hey, look - she's eating that entire bag of chips...mmmm, this raw almond is deee-lish!), and that meant making sure that I took in plenty of protein so I didn't get hungry.  If I had gone over the three hour mark and I hadn't had protein, then those mint brownies might very well have been in big trouble (and MIA!)

The truth is, when push came to shove, being surrounded by all of those delicious options was not nearly as challenging as I thought it would be.  I will say that I think that everything smelled and looked better than I ever imagined that it had before (maybe because I knew I would not be partaking?)...and I probably had a piece of two more of turkey skin (we fry our turkey) than I had planned (soooo worth it!), but in the end, it really *was* the company of my family and our friends that made the holiday. 

There's no denying that every single dish presented on that table was prepared to perfection, without a doubt. (Both of my sisters, my mother and another dear friend that was present are all excellent cooks).  But you know what was even more delicious? Hearing what each of my children's "best day since last Thanksgiving" had been.

The truth is this, folks:  the memories of the time spent together on Thanksgiving Day will last a heck of a lot longer than any mint brownie or key lime pie ever would have, and are even more delicious to me because I actually managed to make it through the holiday still on my program (no "fudges"...even the dark chocolate was barely touched AND I have finally managed to get back on track with my cardio (more on this later...I made an important discovery -- for myelf -- that I hope may help someone else out there who is attempting to live life more healthfully...) As a matter of fact, of the three days we were out of town, I walked a minimum of 45 minutes each day!! Woo Hoo!! And today, right after we pulled into town (those bags can wait to be unpacked, right?!) I even went and continued my cardio streak by going to the gym and working out for 45 minutes there...It wasn't quite the same (something about walking outside on those cloudless, blue-skyed days really called to me), but you know what? The calorie burn WAS!!!

Ultimately, I know now that I should not have been worried about Thanksgiving.  I was surrounded by people who love me and who have been so supportive on my journey to better health. With them around, how could I fail? I could not! And that, my friends, was the sweetest bit of all!!

Let's Talk Turkey

Well, it's that time of year again...I can hardly believe it...Thanksgiving!! My family-at-large gathers together to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday, and the calls back and forth to determine who will bring what (one sister in particular who is an awesome cook shoulders the majority of the cooking responsibility...this year in particular, I am more grateful for that on so many levels...Thank you, sister!) have already begun.  And with all of that, of course, has come the realization that after months of existing in this lovely non-holiday time frame...well: the holidays are upon us! 

Holidays are such a two-edged sword, aren't they? I don't know about you, but for me, it seems to involve a LOT of running around and then a LOT of savoring - both of the memories we're making, and, quite frankly, the food I'm eating!  It all begins with the Thanksgiving weekend, thinking of the perfect gift for this or that person; going out and finding said gift (thank goodness for online shopping!) and then making sure that said gift is in the right place at the right time.  When I am not running around, it used to be that I would be enjoying the various treats of the season.  Beginning with the Thanksgiving holiday and key lime & pumpkin pies, mint brownies, fried turkeys, delicious stuffing and other goodies...moving into yummy goodies that dear friends and family would send us to celebrate the season, from home-made sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, to chocolate covered oreos (OK: I actually sent out the chocolate covered oreos as gifts last year, but I couldn't very well send out something as a gift that I hadn't tried myself, could I?! So I ordered some for us as well...and they were a DELICIOUS gift!)...and let's not forget the home-made egg nog!  

This year, it will be different, and I don't think I had quite realized HOW different it was going to be until the other day, when talk in our family turned to who was going to be bringing what or who wanted what to eat over the upcoming holiday.  It came upon me suddenly, and surprised me quite thoroughly.  The day of the year that is my MOST favorite day of the year has lost a critical component for me: THE FOOD.  Don't get me wrong:  I fully intend on having a bite of the cornbread dressing that has been a part of our family's Thanksgiving tradition for decades; and I fully intend on having a slice or two of the fried turkey...and I will savor every single morsel!! I might even have a beautifully toasted mini-marshmellow stolen off the top of the sweet potato casserole that my sister makes.  But the truth is, the food doesn't MEAN the same to me anymore. I will enjoy my Thanksgiving meal (I'm quite sure of it!), but then, I will go back to my Greek yogurt the following morning and resume my regularly scheduled program!  For me, it is JUST A MEAL. 

For those of you who have and have maintained healthy eating habits for all of your life, maybe this won't make sense...but it used to be that I would think about the components that make up our Thanksgiving meal for weeks ahead of time...looking forward to that delicious zing of a mint brownie, or the salty goodness that is the skin of the fried turkey!  This year, the deliciousness that is Thanksgiving will be found in other places for me:  a young niece that gives an unexpected hug; a nephew who pauses to show me the rock he's found; an older niece that sits to have a conversation about her life and what's going on with her; time with a sister who I don't get to see very often; sharing a private joke with another sister who I do see often; seeing my parents interact with my children and all of their grandchildren, spending time with family friends who I wish I could see more of; watching my children soak up the time with their cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles; marveling at how much what was once a little family of five has grown; and, ultimately, basking in that glow that comes when you know you are in the right place, with the right people, and savoring every minute, because it is the ONLY Thanksgiving 2011 we shall have...there other years, other times together, other jokes...but we shall not pass this way again...

Oh, so much sweeter than any dessert could ever be!!