If you are the chef this year, we recommend serving up fresh, steamed beans instead of the fattening casserole or at least make the casserole with low fat and low salt cream of mushroom soup. Also, remember, fresh beans are always better than canned.
Too sweet potatoes
As a chef, I have always wondered at the sweet-on-sweet flavor of combining sweet potatoes with marshmallows. This casserole is, however, a favorite especially in the South. That being said, sweet potatoes can be equally delicious without the marshmallows. Simply roast, with skins on, until soft. Then cool, peel and finally mash the potatoes with a touch of salt. If you are just a feast guest this year, graciously pass this dish on and save your sugar quota for dessert.
Pie please
Pumpkin, in its pure form, is insanely nutritious. Combine it, however, with sugar, cream, eggs and spices and suddenly this nutritional powerhouse has been put in the no-no corner. Pie crusts, especially commercially made ones, are loaded with hydrogenated fat (the bad kind). Add in the fat from the filling’s cream and eggs and suddenly your little slice of pie (one eighth of a pie) can rack up to almost 500 calories and 16 grams of fat. If you must have pumpkin pie, just scoop out the filling and skip the crust. You’ll save yourself a bunch of needless calories and bad-for-baby fats.