“Laughter is brightest where food is best.”
– Irish Proverb
Collier Home Care can provide your loved one with a home health aide (HHA) or a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to protect and keep them independent in their home, but with the holidays quickly approaching, can we also protect them from the consequences of Thanksgiving’s delectable dishes? Americans take in 3,000 to 4,500 calories at their Thanksgiving celebrations, according to estimates by the Calorie Control Council.
While nothing can beat a good meal, here are some healthier ways to prepare your favorites without sacrificing taste.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato Casseroles are a widely requested Thanksgiving side dish, as the comforting smell of marshmallow, cinnamon, and brown sugar can put you right in the holiday spirit. However, all these sweet ingredients spell out calorie chaos. To make sweet potatoes a healthy addition to your meal, try baking them for 40 minutes with a light drizzle of olive oil, mash, and add butter to taste for a dish packed Vitamin C and potassium, as well as a good source of fiber.
Green Bean Casserole
Cream of mushroom soup and fried onion strings; delicious, but deadly for your diet. One healthy alternative, Lemony Green Beans with Almond Breadcrumbs, allows for crisp green beans topped with a blend of toasted almonds, breadcrumbs, garlic, and lemon zest. This is the perfect way to build on a classic without sacrificing flavor!
Stuffing
Although there are good carbohydrates versus bad carbohydrates, it may take you forever to distinguish between the two when it comes to one of the most popular holiday dishes: stuffing. In lieu of excess starch, try substituting this with a simple vegetable and fruit platter. Still delicious, and nutritious!
Turkey
None can replace the head of the table, the king of Thanksgiving, the turkey. However, buying a 10 plus pound turkey and going through the hassle of cooking this large bird can be avoided by purchasing a package of turkey breasts and seasoning them with a light dusting of salt, pepper, onion, and garlic. Voila! Now you have a healthy protein without taking too much time or counter space.
We are here to support you and your loved ones during this hectic holiday season by providing caregivers to assist you. Here are some ways Collier Home Care can help you:
- Help with standby or hands-on assistance with the activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, toileting, walking/mobility, transferring, feeding, grooming, and continence.
- Grocery shopping and meal preparation
- Errands
- Driving
- Medication reminding or assistance with self-administration of medication
Depending on what you need, Collier Home Care offers between one and 24 hours a day service, plus live-in care. It is our pleasure to care for you, your family, and your loved ones.
If we can help with home health care services or determine an appropriate level of care, call us at (239) 920-3902 or reach us here.