The question of healthy diet vs. family desire for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

But if you're the cook, make what you want. Do gentle modifications. Use whole grains in your stuffing. Mash sweet potatoes without sugar or butter, and skip the marshmallows. Have fresh vegetables instead of heavy casseroles. Or have some of both. Leave the skins on the white potatoes you mash, and leave out the butter. Mostly just make it a day everyone can enjoy.

you don't have so many leftovers to tempt you later, but enjoy the day and have the traditional meal that everybody anticipates and loves.

Seriously, it's one day, just add a few healthy items, and prepare in a healthier way.

I'd make what they expect and make a separate meal for myself.

I'm watching what I eat, too, but I'm not on a strict diet as far as the type of food I eat. I just keep it under a certain amount of calories. That means when I celebrate this weekend with my family, I'll go into it knowing how many calories is in what and eat the same thing as everyone else without going over my calorie limit. And hold the pie unless that's all you want to eat. I was amazed at how many calories pumpkin pie has in it.

Plenty for you to stick to your healthier diet, without making your family feel this one special day is a deprivation for them...

I say this in all sincerity, having, for the first time in my life, been able to stick to my own healthier patterns over a three week trip, including several days in the food capitol, New Orleans! Congrats to you and I truly understand... But I'm betting your will power will allow you to be satiated with your own healthier offerings, while still providing the other foods for your family members.

but most of the foods that are popularly associated with Thanksgiving are pretty healthy. Turkey, pumpkin, cranberries....yummy and healthy! I just don't over indulge on the stuffing and potatoes (although I do have a bit because it is a once a year thing). And then I make sure that I get out and have some exercise after--a nice walk or bike ride....it doesn't have to be a disaster.

If you are making green bean casserole, use fresh green beans and set aside some that are simply steamed for you. Mashed potatoes for everyone else and a baked potato for you. Turkey is pretty healthy - just don't put gravy and stuffing on it. Skip the dinner rolls and eat more fruit salad or spinach salad (or whatever other healthier options you are having).

Since big family dinners are always at my house, I've had to juggle different diets (vegetarians, vegans, people on a strict diet) and I've learned I can make myself crazy trying to accomodate everyone. So I just make the traditionals as usual allocating portions of the same ingredients to be cooked in a much simpler, healthier way (eg. like putting a couple of baked potatoes in the oven on a lower shelf as the turkey cooks instead of throwing those last two into the mashed potato pot).

If I'm cleaning and trimming green beans for casserole, I simply throw some into the steamer instead of into the casserole dish while I'm prepping.

Good luck!

Seriously, do you have family that comes to your house or do they all live at your house?
If they're coming, tell them that this year you will be modifying the traditional meal
and if they want to have certain traditional foods higher in fat, sodium, etc, then
ask them to bring it--whether it's candied yams or green bean casserole or pecan pie...or
whatever.

Then you prepare alternatives: steamed green beans; crustless pie; etc.