Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello, Weight Watchers!

I'm not leading any meetings this week, so I'm taking a break from the formal blog, however I have some Thanksgiving inspiration to share. :)

Thanksgiving Choices
I could eat everything
I could gobble it down
My pants would get tighter
And I'd wobble around

This year at Thanksgiving
I will do something new
I'll write in my Tracker
And I'll choose Filling Foods too!

I'll enjoy my favorites
But will keep portions small
I'll keep myself busy
When the food cravings call

A day of poor choices?
It's just not worth the cost
And at next week's weigh in
I'll be thankful I lost.

Author Unknown

Think - "I am a weight watcher."
Have a vision.
An anchor can keep you on track.
Next week - be sure to weigh in.
Keep an eye on your portions.
Stick to your plan (but first have a plan).
Green is good.
Interrupt food with water.
Vow to make good choices.
Invite someone to take a walk with you.
Navigate the buffet wisely.
Give someone who supports you a word of "Thanks".

Have a great week, everyone!

Cyndi

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.

--Erma Bombeck

Candied Sweet Potato with Pineapple
Makes 6 servings (1/2 cup)
POINTS® value per serving: 2

1 spray cooking spray
◊1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
8 oz canned crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 Tbsp sucralose no calorie sweetener
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF. Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.

2. Place potatoes in prepared dish. In a small bowl, combine crushed pineapple, sweetener and cinnamon; add to potatoes and toss until well mixed.

3. Bake, stirring after 30 minutes, until sweet potato mixture is bubbly, about 45 minutes.

Recipe adapted from WeightWatchers.com

Serving Up Thanksgiving (And Other Special Occasions)

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did last week's meeting help you evaluate your holiday traditions? We don't want to discard all of our traditions, but there is no need to stuff ourselves to be thankful for our family and friends! From starting a family walk or football game to creating a gratitude journal, there are plenty of ways to have a happy, healthy holiday!

HOLIDAY BOOK EXTRAVAGANZA
Cookbooks make great holiday gifts! All meeting room books and cookbooks (excluding Companions and Healthy Cooking Basics) are half price November 8 through December 5. Treat yourself or get an inexpensive stocking stuffer!

'TIS THE SEASON FOR SUPPORT!
Capehart Federal Building members - We have four paid members so far. We need a minimum of 15 members to start a new series by December 1 and have continuous holiday support. Please contact me if you or anyone you know is interested!

Covance Central Labs members - Your Recipe Swap Open House is this Friday, November 20 at 11:15. Please bring a few copies of a healthy recipe to share! There will be product samples and the opportunity to sign up for a new series!

HEALTHY FOR CHEAP TIP OF THE WEEK
Clean out your cabinets and refrigerator! A 2004 study by the University of Arizona found that 14-15% of the food in the US ($43 billion dollars' worth!) is wasted. If you find produce or dairy going bad week after week, freeze it, buy less or find someone in your meeting to split it with!

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes ‘n gravy have nary a lump,
May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs!

♫ ♪♫♪ ARTICLES OF NOTE ♫ ♪♫♪

• Thanksgiving Cheat Sheet
• Thanksgiving Weekly Planner
• Holiday Survival: One Woman's Story

The Momentum plan helps us enjoy the special foods associated with holidays, especially Thanksgiving. We will learn how to manage special-occasion foods and lose weight - by deciding which foods, how much, and how often to eat. Come to your meeting to discuss our favorite holiday foods and lighter look-alikes!

Have a great week! I'll see you at your meeting!

Cyndi
None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.
--Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

Garlicky Braised Turkey Breast
Makes 12 servings (3 slices turkey and 1/4 cup broth with onions)
POINTS® value per serving: 4

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp poultry seasoning or 1 Tbsp herbes de Provence
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
◊1 (6-pound) whole bone-in turkey breast (skin removed before eating)
◊2 onions, sliced
◊1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp cornstarch

1. Mash together the butter, garlic, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. With your fingertips, gently loosen the skin from the breast meat. Rub the butter mixture all over the meat under the skin.

2. Stir together the onions, broth, and cornstarch in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Place the turkey on top of the onion mixture. Cover and cook until the turkey is fork-tender, 4–5 hours on high or 8–10 hours on low.

3. Transfer the turkey to a platter and carve the breast into about 36 slices. Serve with the broth and onions. Remove the turkey skin before eating.

Recipe adapted from Weight Watchers® Momentum Cookbook ©2008 Weight Watchers International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Make New Traditions: Get Activity Support

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did last week's meeting help you think of strategies to make it through the holidays guilt-free? There's no reason we can't enjoy our favorites without gaining weight!

HOLIDAY BOOK EXTRAVAGANZA
Cookbooks make great holiday gifts! All meeting room books and cookbooks (excluding Companions and Healthy Cooking Basics) are half price November 8 through December 5. Treat yourself or get an inexpensive stocking stuffer!

'TIS THE SEASON FOR SUPPORT!
Capehart Federal Building members - It's renewal time! Sign up for a new 12-week series and get guaranteed support throughout the holiday season! Weight Watchers At Work offers the most flexibility of any meeting plan - you can attend at work, near your home, or while you're out and about.

Covance Central Labs members - Your Recipe Swap Open House is this Friday, November 13 at 11:15. Please bring a few copies of a healthy recipe to share! There will be product samples and the opportunity to sign up for a new series!

HEALTHY FOR CHEAP TIP OF THE WEEK
You don't have to pay top dollar for lean ground beef if you're planning to brown and drain it anyway. Simply rinse the drained meat under the hottest water you can get out of your tap - most of the fat will drain away.

♫ ♪♫♪ ARTICLES OF NOTE ♫ ♪♫♪

• Seven Ways to Say You're Thankful (Without Eating)
• Are You Ready for Thanksgiving?
• Confessions of a Converted Couch Potato

Holiday gatherings and social events are often food-centered and that can weaken our resolve to stay on track. We can respect our current traditions while, at the same time, creating new, more active traditions with the help of our friends and family. What a great way to spend time with the people we love and be more healthy together!

Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you at your meeting!

Cyndi

Gluttony and surfeiting are no proper occasions for thanksgiving.
--Charles Lamb

Cranberry Nut Turkey Salad
Makes 4 servings (1 ½ cups)
POINTS® value per serving: 5

◊2 1/2 cups roasted skinless turkey, chopped or diced
1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
◊1/4 cup scallions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
2 Tbsp dried cranberries
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
◊4 cups romaine lettuce, torn

1. Combine all ingredients, except lettuce, in a medium bowl; mix well and serve over lettuce.

Adapted from WeightWatchers.com

Keeping it Going (Sustaining Motivation)

Hello, Weight Watchers! Did last week's meeting make you more aware of the Good Health Guidelines? Using Filling Foods to fulfill the GHGs is a great way to get the best bang for your points buck! Give that healthy, strong body the nutrients it needs and feel satisfied! Bonus!



HEALTHY FOR CHEAP TIP OF THE WEEK
Drink only water. Crystal Light, sodas, and coffee all cost more than plain water (even if you have to buy the refillable gallon jugs or a Brita pitcher).

♫ ♪♫♪ ARTICLES OF NOTE ♫ ♪♫♪

• Keep Your Motivation Going Strong
• Have a Holiday Game Plan
• Keeping Up with Coach

The impending holiday season, with its temptations and distractions, can be among the most challenging time of the year for Weight Watchers. Schedule shakeups, tempting treats, and stress can put up a weight-loss roadblock. This week, we'll discuss strategies to help maintain control of our eating and stay connected to the program (and our motivation!) over the holidays.

Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you at your meeting!

Cyndi

Motivation is like food for the brain. You cannot get enough in one sitting. It needs continual and regular top ups.
--Peter Davies

Stuffing with Sage and Chives
Makes 8 servings (1/8 dish)
POINTS® value per serving: 2

1 spray cooking spray
12 slices whole-wheat bread, or white bread, preferably day-old, cubed*
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp light butter
◊1 cup onions, diced
◊3 medium stalks celery, diced
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
◊2 cups canned chicken broth
2 Tbsp chives, fresh, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 4-quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Arrange bread cubes on a large ungreased baking sheet in a single layer (use 2 baking sheets if there’s not enough room). Bake until lightly toasted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove bread from oven and set aside; leave oven set to 350ºF.

3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil and butter together for 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion and celery; sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. Add thyme, sage, salt and pepper; stir to coat. Cook until herbs are fragrant, about 1 minute.

4. Transfer onion mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add bread, broth and chives; toss to combine. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish and cover with foil; bake 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until top is golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Divide into 8 pieces.

Recipe adapted from WeightWatchers.com