Thanksgiving countdown

Great article I got from weight watchers written by: Elly Trickett McNerney


Follow this “to do” list all month long to stay on top of your holiday game plan.

Some people thrill at the thought of hosting Thanksgiving; others pall at the notion of gigantic, slippery turkeys, solid logs of canned cranberry and a house full of guests. Whichever group you fall into, we’ve taken the guesswork out of it with this checklist.


Early November
*Plan your menu – decide which items can be made ahead of time and frozen.
*Make sure you have the proper kitchen equipment, and plan out your cooking times. You won’t be able to put everything in the oven at once.
*Prepare guest list and send invitations.
*Familiarize yourself with our Best-Ever Slimmed-Down Turkey and Gravy recipe.
*Figure out what size turkey you’ll need, and order it.
*Make turkey stock and freeze it.
*Decide on your table setting/room décor/music, and pick an overall theme.
*Put together a list of kid activities to keep them busy.
*Because it’s a busy time be sure to create a workout schedule – it will keep your weight-loss on track and help with stress. *Even on the most time-crunched days, you can fit in a 20-minute walk.
*Ask for some of your guests to bring dishes so you don’t have to do it all.
*Make a double batch of low PointsPlus® values soup, and a warming casserole or lasagna, and freeze in single and double-size portions so you’ll have a few homemade meals ready for that last week. Try this Spicy Black Bean Soup, a Greek-inspired *Meat Moussaka or the delicious and easy Slow Cooker Lasagna.

Saturday November 19
*Go shopping for make-ahead or non-perishable items including drinks.
*Clean the house.

Sunday November 20
*Have a fun family day — go for a bike ride, have a chilly weather picnic (think soups in a flask and bundling up in layers), or just chill out with some board games and Mulled Apple-Cranberry Cider.
*Make pie crusts, cakes, bread — and get the family to help.

Monday November 21
*Prepare table setting — polish silver, make sure glasses sparkle, press linens, assemble serving platters.
*Start defrosting turkey.
*Make the Cranberry-Orange Relish

Tuesday November 22
*Get a start on side dishes. This frees up your counter space!
*Make the Stuffing with Sage and Chives — it keeps for three days in the fridge.
*Assemble the Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust and Caramel-Apple Tart.
*Shop for remaining food items such as bread, salad greens
*Make ice cubes.

Wednesday November 23
*Steam the Brussels sprouts and prepare the turkey bacon for the Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts.
*Make the Dark Chocolate Cake
*Defrost turkey stock.
*Set the table.
*Chill beer, soda, white wine.
*Treat yourself to a mani/pedi or a blowout.

Thanksgiving day
*7:30am: Take the turkey out of the fridge. Double-check when you need to put your turkey in the oven, remembering to leave enough time for preheating.
*8am: Have a hearty breakfast with plenty of protein and fiber, like this Asparagus, Bacon and Cheese Strata, to keep you going while you prepare the meal, and to cut down on the likelihood of nibbling.
*10:30am: Prepare the Apple-Topped Mashed Sweet Potatoes, put in the fridge.
*12:30pm: Have a light lunch low in PointsPlus values to keep you going so you don’t overdo it at dinner. Take some time after your lunch to have a cup of tea and read a book, even if it’s just 20 minutes hiding in the bathroom. Make it known that interruptions are unwelcome — and unwise!
*2:30pm: Put the Apple-Topped Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the oven.
*3:00pm: As guests arrive welcome them with appetizers, low-fat cheeses, olives, wine, and 0 PointsPlus values dips.
*3:15pm: Put the Stuffing with Sage and Chives in the oven.
*3:30pm: Take the turkey out of the oven, make the gravy.
*3:45pm: Finish making the Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts.
*4pm: Bon appétit!
*6pm: Rouse your household for a brisk walk — minus two designated clearer-uppers. (They can earn activity PointsPlus values for cleaning if they do it with gusto!)
*7pm: Make sure leftovers are safely stored. If you’re feeling generous, prepare doggy bags for guests.

Friday
*Check out the Food and Recipes section of WeightWatchers.com for creative ways to spruce up leftovers.
*Plan your food and activity for the weekend — many people fall off the wagon, often because they feel they’ve been “good” on Thanksgiving itself.
*Get a good workout in, to motivate you to stay on track between now and the holidays.

10 Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays

When celebrating the winter festivities, don't forget to keep holiday pet dangers in mind. It may require some changes to your normal decorating or dining routine, but these tips can help you create a pet-safe holiday that is fun for the whole family.

10. Practice fire safety. Nothing looks nicer than a Thanksgiving table aglow with candles. But be sure to never leave any fire unattended particularly when you have pets in the house. Not only can curious whiskers get burned, if a candle is knocked over by a wagging tail, it can lead to a serious fire.

9. Hoard the people food. Although it’s tempting to give your pets a taste or two from your Thanksgiving plate, too much human food can be bad for your pet’s health. For more about what people food to share and not to share over the holidays, click here.

8. Hide the breakables. Holiday feasts can mean bringing out treasured items like Great Aunt Mae’s fine china or your finest stemware. Just remember that your beloved pets don’t know the value of these items, and they could get broken. So if you have favorite, breakable decorations or table settings, be sure to keep them out of reach.

7. Watch out for toxic plants. Many holiday plants, including mistletoe, holly, poinsettia, and even that beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece of lilies can be toxic to pets. If you must decorate with these holiday pet dangers, keep them well away from curious paws and mouths.

6. A toast to everyone’s health. When you raise that glass of holiday bubbly, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where Fluffy or Fido can’t sneak a taste. Alcohol and pets simply don’t mix. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill, go into a coma or worse.

5.How sweet it isn’t. Although many people like to leave out chocolates for visitors throughout the holidays, it’s important to remember that these sweets are major pet dangers. Chocolate is tasty for you, but it’s toxic for Fluffy and Fido.

4. Keep the lights high. Many people enjoy decorating with strings of lights during the holidays, but do so with caution. Twinkling lights make a shiny toy, but they’re not safe to play with or chew on. Keep your celebrations shock-free by hanging lights up high.

3. Don’t decorate with food. Strings of cranberries and popcorn can be a beautiful way to liven up your household, and a fun project to do with your kids, but they’re holiday hazards for pets. Even if the food on the string isn’t toxic for Fido or Fluffy, they may end up eating the string—and that can cause serious health problems.

2. Steer clear of tinsel town. Tinsel is more than just a glittery decoration. If your pets eat it, it can cause intestinal problems that require a trip to the veterinarian.

1. Wrap it up. If you like to display your holiday presents, watch out for ribbons, bells, and other small toys that can present a choking hazard for your pet. If there are any dangerous-looking gifts, it may be a good idea to hide them safely in a closet until it’s time to open them—or open them right away. After all, no one can accuse you of being rude if you’re doing it to have a pet-safe holiday.