10. Plan a Thanksgiving brunch. Brunch can be a festive alternative to a heavy sit-down meal. It'll allow your body more time to burn off those unwanted calories during the day.

9. Forget alcohol, hot rum toddy and egg nog, who needs the extra calories? And if you must set out the coffee and tea, add a pitcher of fat-free milk or fat free, evaporated milk instead of heavy cream or half-and-half -- you'll get the creamy color and taste, and save more than 3 g of fat in a 2-tablespoon serving.

8. Get the right-size bird. Cooking too big a turkey can lead to making extra batches of fattier side dishes such as stuffing and gravy. Figure 1 pound of turkey per person, and you'll still have leftovers.

7. Forgo the appetizer tray of buffalo wings and nachos, instead opt for crudit - with salsa, nonfat cream cheese and dill spread on whole wheat crackers or shrimp with cocktail sauce.

6. Portion out the serving to an ounce or two. Pouring gravy out of a boat nearly guarantees that you'll use too much. Serve gravy, hollandaise sauce, and other pourable toppings in bowls, not boats, with small serving ladles.

5. Serve sticks. Celery sticks that is. For nibbling between courses, substitute fresh cut vegetables for that slice of bread or roll and butter.

4. Pass on potatoes. Starchy foods such as mashed potatoes and refined grain products such as white rice have a high glycemic index (GI), which means that their sugars are absorbed rapidly into your bloodstream. To play it safe, choose other vegetables, legumes, and fruits -- most have a lower GI rating.

3. Skip dessert. But if you must have a treat, try a baked apple instead of apple pie, pumpkin creme brulee made with skim evaporated milk--no crust, and if you can't do without pie, take your favorite pie recipe and bake in a tartlet pan instead of a pie plate. Allow yourself only 1 mini tart.

2. Do a mental food log before eating. It's a quick and easy way to rate how you're keeping to your holiday food plan. If your mother is hosting dinner, and you know it will be a sumptuous spread, stick to a simple salad and turkey breast for your noon meal. Or call ahead and tell Mom that although it's Thanksgiving you need to stick to your eating regimen and see if she can't accomodate you.

1. Water, water and more water. Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated and satisfied. Also don't forget that protein shake!

Chef Vince
Food Editor/Writer