We all love Thanksgiving Dinner and the fond memories associated with the holidays. We also hate feeling fat the next day. I have some suggestions to up the nutritional content by: reducing calories, raising your fiber, vitamin and antioxidant intake. Turkey is rich in tryptophan that your body uses to make serotonin the chemical your brain uses to improve mood and reduce sugar cravings. Consider cooking a turkey breast so you eat the white meat with a lower fat content.

Think about a wild rice stuffing that has fruit added in place of a bread stuffing. Add baked sweet potatoes that pack a whopping 8,800 units of vitamin A in one potato alone. You can add a spoonful of natural maple syrup and fresh ginger to glaze your potatoes. Roast your vegetables with olive oil, rosemary or Italian seasoning. You can make butternut squash fries (vitamin A 22,868 IU per cup!) by peeling, seeding and slicing your squash into lengthwise strips, coating with olive oil, salt & pepper, and baking for about 40 minutes.

Spinach salad adds wonderful color to your meal and contains 13 flavonoids with anti cancer properties effective against prostate, colon, and bone cancer. Sprinkle your salad with flax seeds, sunflower seeds or pomegranate seeds or sliced red apple. A simple vinaigrette of apple cider vinegar and olive oil will do the trick. Serve a glass of red wine to help keep your heart healthy, and have a happy Thanksgiving.