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Leftover Turkey Recipes

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Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mine was great. I’m always happy to share the day with my family and friends.

I also take time to be thankful for all the blessings in my life – and that includes you – my faithful readers.

Here are some of my favorite Leftover Turkey Recipes 

 ENJOY!!!

Turkey and Mushroom Casserole

6 servings

  • 1-tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
  • 1 cup long-grain brown rice
  • 1 can (14-oz.) chicken broth
  • 1/4-cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 tablespoon plus
  • 1-teaspoon butter or margarine
  • 1 pound of mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/4-teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups diced, cooked turkey (3/4 lb.)
  • 1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat
  3. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes
  4. Add garlic, cook another minute
  5. Stir in rice
  6. Add broth, water and sage
  7. Bring mixture to boil
  8. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 40 minutes
  9. While mixture is simmering melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a nonstick skillet
  10. Add mushrooms and cook until tender, about 10 minutes
  11. Stir in salt and pepper
  12. Grease shallow 2 quart baking dish with remaining butter
  13. Spoon rice into baking dish
  14. Top evenly with turkey
  15. Spoon mushrooms over turkey
  16. Mix wine and soup then pour over top
  17. Baker casserole for 30 minutes
  18. Sprinkle with parsley and serve

Baked Turkey Sandwich

Makes 8 sandwiches

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/3-cup butter, softened
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp. poppy seed
  • 8 Kaiser rolls split
  • 1-1/2 lbs. thinly sliced deli turkey
  • 8 slices deli Swiss cheese
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  1. Sauté onions in olive oil until tender
  2. Mix butter, mustard, onion mixture and poppy seeds in small bowl
  3. Spread mixture over out sides of rolls
  4. Fill rolls with turkey and cheese
  5. Wrap sandwich in aluminum foil
  6. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until sandwiches are hot and cheese is melted

 

Wild Rice and Turkey Bake

Serves 8

  • 3 cups cooked wild rice
  • 3 cups chopped cooked turkey
  • 16 oz. pkg. frozen French cut green beans, thawed
  • 17 oz. jar Alf redo sauce
  • 1/2-cup soft breadcrumbs
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Mix all ingredients except breadcrumbs in large bowl
  3. Spread evenly in 12×8” glass baking dish
  4. Top with breadcrumbs
  5. Bake for 45 minutes

 

Leftover Casserole

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • You can mix many of your leftovers together – such as gravy, vegetables and turkey
  • Place in glass baking dish
  • Top with leftover mashed potatoes, biscuits or piecrusts
  • Bake until the topping is golden brown – 15 to 20 minutes

 

Turkey Leftover Casserole

Serves 6

  • 2 cups diced turkey
  • 1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 2 cups stuffing
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  2. Place turkey in greased casserole dish
  3. Spread soup evenly over the turkey
  4. Top with stuffing
  5. Bake for 30 minutes

 

Curried Turkey

Serves 4

  • 1 package (10 ounces) frozen broccoli spears, cooked and drained
  • 2 cups cooked turkey, cubed
  • 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/4 cup reduced calorie mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1-teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 cup seasoned croutons
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Place single layer of broccoli in an 8-inch square-baking dish
  3. Top with turkey
  4. In a small bowl combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder
  5. Pour over turkey and top with croutons
  6. Bake for 20 minutes

 

Turkey Vegetable Soup

Serves 15

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine
  • 3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 1 cup sliced celery
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 10 cups turkey or low-sodium chicken stock
  • 3/4 cup uncooked long-grain rice
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon each chopped fresh thyme and rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon each dried thyme and rosemary leaves
  • 2 cups diced white turnips
  • 2 cups bite-size pieces fresh or frozen green beans
  • 2 cups diced cooked turkey (12 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup minced parsley
  1. In large pot melt butter
  2. Add mushrooms, onions, carrots, celery and garlic
  3. Sauté for 5 minutes
  4. Add the stock, rice, bay leaf, salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary Increase heat and bring to boil
  5. Lower heat and let simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes stirring occasionally
  6. Add turnips, green beans and simmer for 7 minutes
  7. Stir in the turkey and simmer for another 5 minutes
  8. Discard the bay leaf
  9. Stir in lemon juice and parsley

 

Tex-Mex Turkey

Serves 4

  • 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
  • 2 onions, coarsely chopped
  • 1 large sweet red or green pepper, coarsely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped hot chili pepper
  • 1 cup pearl barley, sorted and rinsed
  • 1 3/4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper
  • 2 cups shredded cooked turkey
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  2. Heat oil over moderate heat
  3. Sauté onions, sweet pepper and chili pepper, stirring, until lightly browned
  4. Add barley, stirring, until cooked and well coated with the oil
  5. Pour in the chicken stock and crushed tomatoes
  6. Add salt and pepper
  7. Bring to boil
  8. Stir in turkey
  9. Spread into casserole dish
  10. Cook covered for 55 minutes, stirring occasionally
  11. Stir in corn kernels, and cook an additional 10 minutes

 

Pita Turkey Sandwich

Serves 6

  1. Cube turkey
  2. Add salsa
  3. Heat in skillet
  4. Stuff into half a pita
  5. Top with lettuce, tomato and cheese

Day After Turkey Pie

  • 1 package Pillsbury pie crusts
  • 1-½ cups cooked turkey meat
  • 1 cup stuffing, crumbled
  • 1 ½ cups turkey gravy
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 egg white, beaten
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
  2. Prepare the piecrust as directed for a 9-inch two-crust pie
  3. Combine all the other ingredients except egg white and mix well
  4. Pour into pie shell and cover with the top crust
  5. Brush the beaten egg white over the crust
  6. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the pie is golden brown

 

Turkey Salad

Serves 6

  • 2 c. diced cooked turkey
  • 2 tbsp. currants
  • 1/4 c. chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 c. chopped celery
  • 1/2 tsp. curry powder
  • 1/4 tsp. ginger
  • 2 med. apples, cored and diced
  • 2 oranges, peeled and diced
  • Lettuce cups
  • 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
  • 3 tbsp. salad oil
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. mayonnaise
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • Dash Tabasco
  1. Combine turkey, currants, walnuts, celery, curry powder, ginger and nutmeg
  2. Chill 1/2 hour
  3. Combine oil, lemon juice, mayonnaise, salt and Tabasco in small jar
  4. Shake to blend well
  5. Pour over salad and toss lightly
  6. Add diced apples and oranges and toss again
  7. Serve in lettuce cups

Enjoy your leftovers, just don’t over indulge.
Your goal should be to maintain your weight over the holidays.

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Tips to Stay Motivated during Winter Exercise

Many of us find it difficult to keep to our diet and exercise plans during the gloomy winter season. Even though we have worked hard all year to lose weight and get in shape.

Don’t let all of that hard work go down the tube just because it’s cold and gloomy out.

It’s easy to get physical activity when it is warm and sunny outside. We tend to spend more time outdoors working in the garden, walking in the mornings or evenings, riding bikes with the kids, and so on. When someone says “hey, let’s go…” we tend to get up and go.

We seem to have more energy to get out and do things.

Of course a major factor in this motivation is looking great in a bikini or more revealing summer clothes. There isn’t anything wrong with that motivation at all.

We all want to look our best for as long as possible. Besides achieving enourmous health benefits when you lose weight, you look fantastic and feel great.

However, when winter rolls in we want to curl up in our favorite chair wearing a big sweater, or wrapped in a warm cozy blanket with a cup of hot cocoa. It may not be cute, but we don’t care at that point because we are warm and comfy.

That big sweater lends us a false sense of security. We lose our image underneath that big bulky sweater. We don’t see how much damage we could be potentially doing to ourselves by eating and being sedentary.

It is natural, and okay, to want to lay off of your regular exercise routine but completely dropping all physical activity is a BIG NO-NO.

Here are a few things you can do to keep you motivated during the winter.

Start by setting a regular time to work out, and more importantly stick to it. The gloomy weather may cause you to not want to go to the gym, or meet a friend for a class, but you can always put in a DVD and work out in the comfort of your own home. Instead of bundling yourself up to go out in that cold unforgiving weather, you can stay home nice and warm but still get your work out in.

Perhaps you find it easy to skip workout sessions because of the holiday hustle and bustle. Remember that every little bit of activity and exercise adds up, so split it up if you need to. Fifteen minutes in the morning or afternoon, plus another fifteen minutes in the evening or just before bed still adds up to a thirty minute workout or physical activity for the day.

You don’t have to jump up and down for an hour to a specific routing for physical activity to count as exercise. Read your favorite magazine or that new novel you’ve been dying to read while you walk on a treadmill. Dance with the kids or while you vacuum and clean the house. All of this counts as exercise!

Talk to your workout buddy every day, even if you don’t meet up to work out together. Use the phone to keep each other motivated. Use this method especially if you find yourself sitting on the couch not wanting to move…a great motivational friend will have you pumped up to get moving again after a short pep talk.

You know how hard you’ve worked all year to get where you are so why throw it all away just because the winter season lends itself to be the season of frivolity and food?

It may not be easy to stay motivated, but good friends and family can help. Use that help for a boost when you need it.

Stick to your routine as much as possible during the winter and you won’t feel all the after effects of a self-indulging holiday season when it’s over and the sun comes out again. You’ll be one step ahead of everyone else when January rolls around. (And even more importantly, when bikini season returns!)

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Ten Thanksgiving and Holiday Recipes

Pumpkin Pecan Muffins

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs and vanilla. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture until just combined. Do not over mix. Fold in chopped pecans. Spoon batter into lightly greased or lined muffin tin and fill to 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven at 350F for approximately 20 minutes or until golden and baked through. Cool in muffin tins for 5 minutes until removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Fancy Lattice Apple Pie

Ingredients:
8 cups peeled and sliced granny smith apples (or other tart apples)
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of salt
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water

Directions
Preheat oven to 375F.
In a large bowl combine apple slices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Place mixture into pie crust. On a lightly floured surface roll remaining pastry dough and cut into strips. Place strips on top of apple pie making a crisscross pattern. Mix the egg yolk and water in a small bowl and lightly brush the top of the pie. Bake for approximately 45 minutes.
Serve warm topped with custard or whipped cream.

Easy Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:
2 cups pureed pumpkin
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter (melted)
1 pie crust

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour batter into pie crust. Bake in preheated oven at 350F for approximately 60 minutes or until set through.

Topping:
1 pkg cream cheese
1 cup whipped cream
½ cup powdered sugar

Blend all ingredients together and use to top pie.

Creamy Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes

This mashed potato recipe certainly isn’t low fat, but definitely delicious. In our house it’s reserved for holidays only :)   Serves 6, double or triple quantities as necessary.

Ingredients:
6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks.
¼ cup cream
¼ cup real butter
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup milk
3 peeled cloves of garlic (optional)
Chopped fresh chives of parsley (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Place potatoes in large saucepan and cover with water, add a little salt and peeled whole garlic cloves if using. Bring to a boil and cook over medium or high heat for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Drain, discard garlic and return to pan.

Add the milk and beat potatoes with electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add a little of each of the ingredients and keep mixing. Depending on your preference you may want to add a little extra or less sour cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Finally add the chopped chives or parsley if using and stir well. Serve immediately.

Note: For roasted garlic potatoes use the same recipe as above but do not add garlic cloves to potatoes while boiling. Instead crush the garlic cloves and sauté for about 1 minute over very low heat in a little olive oil. Add mixture to potatoes once cooked and mix with all other ingredients.

Cranberry Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (beaten)
1 cups brown sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup fresh or dried cranberries

Directions:
In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs and oil. Mix well. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture and stir well. Fold in the cranberries. Transfer mixture to two lightly greased loaf pans. Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for approximately 45 to 55 minutes or until golden and baked through. Cool for 5 minutes in pan before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Cornbread Stuffing

Ingredients:
½ stick of butter
1 cup diced celery
2 cups diced onions
2 cups water
1 16 oz can of corn, drained
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
2 chicken flavored bouillons
6 cups crumbled cornbread
½ cup chopped pecans
Dash of black pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 2 ½ quart baking dish and set aside.

Melt the butter in large skillet over low heat. Add onion and celery and cook for approximately 5 minutes or until tender. Add water, corn, bouillon, paprika, oregano and pepper. Mix well and then add the cornbread and chopped pecans. Stir through the chopped parsley and spoon mixture into baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for approximately 30 minutes.

Classic Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:
4 cups cooked French style green beans
1 can (10 oz) cream of mushroom soup
½ cup milk
1 1/3 cups French fried onions

Directions:
Place the mushroom soup, milk and pepper in a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Stir in beans and 2/3 cup of the fried onions. Reserve the rest for later. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes at 350F. Then top with the remaining 2/3 cup fried onions and bake about 5 more minutes, until onions are lightly browned.

Candied Yams

Ingredients:
4 fresh yams
¼ cup butter
½ cup orange juice
Zest of one small orange (grated orange peel)
Orange slices (optional)
¼ cup brown sugar
½ bag miniature marshmallows

Directions:
Boil the yams with their peel on until tender. Let cool and remove peel. Cut each yam into about four to five pieces and arrange in large baking dish. Pour orange juice over yams and the orange zest. Sprinkle with brown sugar and dot with butter. Top with marshmallows and place orange slices on top if desired.
Bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes at 350F until marshmallows melt.

All Butter Apple Pie Crust

There are times when a ready pie dish will do but Thanksgiving is special so why not try making your own pie crust… it’s not as difficult as you may think.

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups sifted flour
½ cup chilled butter cut into cubes
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold water

Makes 1 9-inch pie crust
Directions:
Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the butter cubes and blend with a fork or your fingers until mixture is well blended. Gradually add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing the dough gently after each addition. Once dough is well blended shape into a large ball, wrap in cling film and place in refrigerator for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
Remove the dough from fridge and placed onto a floured surface. Using a rolling pin roll dough to form a 10 to 11 inch circle. Line a 9 inch pie pan with dough and chill until ready to use. Reserve remaining dough to top pie crust.

Traditional Roast Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing & Homemade Gravy

For the Stuffing:

Ingredients:
½ cup whole chestnuts or dried if you can’t find whole
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, peeled and minced
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cooking apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 egg, lightly beaten
5 cups stale bread, cubed
1 ¼ cups chicken broth
¼ cup butter, melted
Olive oil
Salt (sea salt is preferable)
Pepper
1 10 lb. turkey

For the Gravy:

Ingredients:
2 carrots, roughly chopped
1 onion, diced
2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
Corn flour
Chicken stock
Butter (if necessary)

Directions:

The Night Before:

If possible, the previous night, or at least one hour before cooking, prepare your turkey. Remove any giblets and rise well (inside and out) with cold water, then pat dry with paper towels. Generously rub turkey with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and place back in refrigerator until time to cook.

The Next Morning:

Preparing the Stuffing:

To roast the chestnuts, cut an X on the flat side of each chestnut and bake 15 to 20 minutes at 375F oven. Let cool for 10 minutes and then peel and chop.

Do not turn oven off as it will need to be preheated for cooking the turkey.

In a large pot over low heat, heat the olive oil then add onions and celery. Saute for about 3 minutes or until soft. Stir in crushed garlic, sage, rosemary, thyme and apple and sauté for a further 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in egg, then add chestnuts and bread. Toss mixture well. Stir in warm broth and season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.

Preparing the Turkey:

Remove turkey from fridge and loosely stuff the neck cavity with chestnut stuffing, fold the skin under and secure in place with a toothpick. Then loosely stuff the main cavity, making sure to leave room for expansion and the air to flow through.

Then prepare your roasting pan. Use a large roasting pan and at the bottom add two roughly chopped carrots, onion and celery. Place the rack over the vegetables. Now place your turkey, breast side up, on the rack. Drizzle with melted butter.

Bake, uncovered, at 375F for the first 30 minutes, then baste and reduce oven temperature to 325F. Continue basting turkey every 25 to 30 minutes. The cooking time should be approximately 20 minutes per pound of turkey, which would be about 3.5 hours for a 10b turkey. To check if the turkey is cooked pierce the thigh bone, juices should run clear without any pink. Also use a meat thermometer on the thickest part of the thigh. The temperature should show 180F. Turkey should be golden and crispy on the outside too.

Remove the turkey from roasting tray and reserve juices for gravy.

Tip: For extra added safety, I like to remove the stuffing from turkey once turkey is cooked and bake on a separate dish for approximately 10 extra minutes.

For the Gravy:

Mash the vegetables in the roasting tray, then push all ingredients through a sieve. Discard any remaining vegetables or fat. Place the sieved liquid in a saucepan and simmer over low heat. If you don’t have enough liquid then add 1 cup or more (depending on how much gravy you need) of chicken stock; You can also add a couple of tablespoons of butter.

In a small bowl add two tablespoons of corn flour and mix with cold water (about ½ cup) until all lumps dissolve. Slowly add a little of this mixture (tablespoon by tablespoon) to the saucepan, stirring well after each addition and allowing time for gravy to thicken. Keep adding corn flour/water mixture until gravy thickens.

Tip: You can also add a couple of tablespoons of red wine to the gravy or Madeira for a richer taste. The alcohol will dissolve during the cooking process and children will be able to have the gravy.

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3 Lessons from ‘The Biggest Loser’


Biggest Loser Diet Club – Sign Up NowAll over the world, millions of people are riveted to their TV’s – but not to watch Sex in the City, or Jay Leno. Not to see the latest soap, or CSI. Not to see who outlasts, outplays, or outwits everyone else on Survivor or Idol.

No, they are spellbound by the efforts of a small group of obese people trying to overcome the effects of years of overeating.

Obesity is the new epidemic. Therefore, it’s not surprising that for so many viewers, this is compulsive to watch. Overweight children sulk around school yards while their fat mothers fill shopping carts with all of the wrong products and foods.

Then, they sit down at night and watch The Biggest Loser. They see new body shapes emerge along with dramatic weight loss. They want to feel these same results, and they begin to think it just might be possible.

  • Who can afford a personal trainer several times a week?
  • Who has four or five hours a day to dedicate to working out?
  • Who had the luxury of having their own personal advisor on smart food choices and calorie content?

Not very many people at all. You have to remember that this is television; therefore it is a false situation.

“This is a GAME. You have to make the most of your time here, because it is going to be MUCH harder out in the real world,” the players keep reminding themselves and the viewers of this. However You can join NBC’s Biggest Loser Diet Club Same diet & fitness program used on TV – personalized to your goals!

It most likely IS harder in the “real world”. However, you can take lessons from watching this reality show. The contestants can make it work for them, and you can make it work for you as well.

Put these three practical and useful lessons to use immediately:

1. You have to put weight loss first.

In the Biggest Loser household, weight loss comes FIRST. So, make it come first in YOUR household as well. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Well, IT IS. It’s so simple, in fact, that many people easily overlook it. They try to fit meal planning, and exercise around everything else in their lives, instead of making it a priority and making everything else fit in around it.

You need to think about what is more important-getting the weight off and becoming fit enough to add years onto your life, or watching another TV show? Allot at least one hour a day to sit down with a pen and paper and plan your meals, record what you eat, and do some sort of exercise. Guess what? That leaves about 23 hours left to do everything else!

2. E is for Exercise-and Enjoy!

What else have you noticed in the Biggest Loser household? The more they exercise, the more they seem to enjoy it and thrive on it! Of course they complain, they sweat, they grunt and they groan. But, as time goes on, they say things like, “I never thought I’d look forward to working out-but now I don’t feel right if a day goes by that I don’t exercise!”

Find what’s right for YOU, and you have found the secret to ENJOYING exercise. Look for other forms of exercise if you don’t enjoy going to the gym. You need to find a good combination of cardio and resistance training, but that doesn’t have to be done on machines.
You can dance, swim, walk, climb hills, push a wheelbarrow around your garden…and the choices are endless so choose something that can be FUN for you. Research what happens to your heart and various muscle groups when you exercise, and remember to pick activities that you will ENJOY.

3. Identify the Triggers.

When the contestants have to face their demons, emotions run high. Weight gain is hardly ever solely physical. You’ll soon see a pattern of emotional eating if you keep a good diary and faithfully record not only what you eat, but when (and why). What are YOUR triggers? Family arguments? Boredom? Exhaustion?

You can start working on strategies to defeat these triggers once you have successfully identified them. Something as simple as challenging yourself every time you want food can help you overcome these triggers.

  • Ask yourself “am I hungry-yes or no?
  • If I’m not hungry, WHY do I want to eat?
  • Am I really just thirsty?
  • Am I running to the fridge just because I am upset?
  • Is there something else I can do to feel better?
  • Is there a long-term solution that will fix this-forever?”

If you aren’t ready to deal with the root cause of your “emotional” eating, then be prepared with food that won’t add to your problems with the resulting rolls of fat by having “good” foods at hand. Just make sure that you LIKE the “good” foods you keep around so you will be more likely to choose them.

These are just three of the simple, but life changing lessons that anyone can take from watching The Biggest Loser. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you did it all by yourself.


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How to Choose the Right Weight Loss Supplement

If you type “weight loss supplement” into any search engine on the net you are bound to find thousands of products claiming to take 30, 50, or even 100 pounds off lightning fast.

The truth is there is no pill, machine, cream or drink mix that will take off the pounds magically.

The only way to lose weight healthily, and thus keep it off is through exercise and proper diet.

I don’t’ promote weight loss pills. But at the request of many of my readers asking about supplemental pills I decided to write this article.

Some quality supplements may enhance your diet and exercise program.

With so many products available, how do you choose which supplement to use?

Well, there isn’t one easy answer because there isn’t a single one that works for everyone, however there are some tips you can use to find the supplement that’s right for you.

The first step in choosing the correct weight loss supplement is to decide what supplements are geared towards your eating habits and dietary goals.

There are three main types of weight loss supplements you can use.

1. Appetite suppressants. If your problem is that you overeat and need to cut back on total caloric intake, you’ll want an appetite suppressant so that you aren’t hungry all of the time.

2. Metabolism booster. If you have already cut back on calories and the pounds are not coming off, you may need to give your metabolism a boost. With these supplements you can consume the same number of calories but you’ll burn more and therefore store less. These will help you lose weight and gain energy.

3. Curb cravings. The third kind help you stick to your diet. There are tons of diets out there that work great but they are hard to stick to (like the low carb diet). You can find supplements that help curb your cravings which help you stick to your diet plan.

While on any diet, you should take a high quality multivitamin which will help ensure you are receiving all of the nutrients that you need and may be missing since cutting back on your calories.

Once you have chosen the correct kind of supplement for you, it’s time to pick a quality brand.

Here are four tips to finding good supplements.

1. Go with the names you’ve heard of. While your store’s brand name probably isn’t the best choice, you should still look for products that have been around for awhile and that you have previously heard of.

2. Do some research. This will take some time and work. Go online and find clinical trials that prove the product gives results. Just make sure you research the information to make sure that it is factual.

3. Find out who you can call if there is a problem. Reputable companies should have contact information on the bottle or in the package insert, or somewhere where you don’t have to really search for it.

4. Look for a certificate of analysis. This means that someone has analyzed the product to prove that it is what it says, and contains what it says.

With a little bit of research, you can find the supplement that is perfect to assist you in taking off those excess pounds. Remember, as with all weight loss plans, you should consult your doctor before starting or trying any diet plan or supplement.

My motto is “Diet Pills Don’t Work – DIETS WORK” – especially if you get the help and support of a good program like eDiets. Get Your FREE eDiets Profile now!

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Thanksgiving Party Food and Snack Ideas

Are you planning a Thanksgiving party?

If so you may be trying to decide which foods and snacks to serve. When it comes to any party, food and snacks are important. There are unlimited options and possibilities for you.

Examine the focus of your Thanksgiving party before you begin to explore food and snack ideas. This may make it easier for you to decide.

In addition to ensuring the enjoyment of your guests, choosing the right food and snacks can help make the planning and preparation of your Thanksgiving party easier for you.

Like any other party, you will want to try to tailor the food to the type of party you are having. You will likely want the snacks to mirror the theme of your get-together

For a Kids Thanksgiving party, it may be wise to focus on having a collection of finger on hand. Kid friendly snacks can include a veggie tray, pudding, pretzels, chips, cheese and crackers, and so on.

If your guests include adults and children, it may a good idea to have a collection of common foods that appeal to all ages. These snacks could include all of the above mentioned foods, as well as cookies and trail mix.

If you have decided on a formal Thanksgiving party consider purchasing more elegant party snacks, which typically include vegetable trays and seafood.

Does your formal Thanksgiving party include a formal Thanksgiving dinner? If so, you will need to purchase more than just snacks. Obviously this would include a main course, such as turkey, along with side dishes such as potatoes, cranberries, and a salad.

Don’t forget the drinks.

Naturally for a kids party you’ll want to serve milk, juice, punch or soda.

If adults will be present you will need to decide whether you want to serve alcohol or not. It is your decision to make, despite the fact that many party guests expect to see alcohol at a party. You do not have to serve alcohol if you do not wish to do so.

Thanksgiving Table Decorating Set

In addition to food and drink, you’ll need to decide on how you wish to decorate. You might like this Thanksgiving Table Decorating Set.

Will you be sending Invitations or Thanksgiving Cards to your guests?

Are you going to make time to play some Fun Games at your party?

Think everything through. With a little planning and preparation you’ll be able to Relax and Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Party.

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Start Over

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