A low-fat Thanksgiving dinner? - includes recipes

Men's Fitness, Nov, 1998 by Kim Galeaz

* Toss the green beans and mushrooms together.

71 calories, 38 percent fat (3.5 grams), 9 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams protein per serving

Mashed Potatoes Supreme

Makes eight one-cup servings

Assemble:

* 8 medium-to-large Yukon gold potatoes (about 3 1/4 lbs), cut into eighths with the skin left on

* 1/3 1/2 to cup skim milk

* 1/4 cup reduced-fat margarine

* 1/3 to 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

* Salt and pepper

Prepare:

* Put the potato chunks in a large pot or pan and cover them completely with water.

* Bring them to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. (Potatoes can be pierced easily with a fork when done.)

* Drain the water and place the spuds in a pan or mixing bowl. With a fork, potato masher or electric mixer, mash the hell out of them - nothing's worse than lumpy mashed potatoes.

* Add margarine, 1/3 cup milk, 1/3 cup sour cream. Use more if the potatoes seem dry. MIX until your forearms cramp.

* Add salt and pepper to taste.

200 calories, 20 percent fat (4.5 grams), 70 grams carbohydrate, 10 grams protein per serving

Pumpkin Pie

Makes eight servings

Assemble:

* 1 15-oz. can pumpkin

* 1 14-oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

* 4 egg whites

* 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

* 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

* 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

* 1/4 tsp. ground cloves

* 1/2 tsp. salt

* 1 tub fat-free whipped topping

* 1 unbaked 9-inch deep-dish frozen or refrigerated pie shell

Prepare:

* Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

* In a large bowl, combine all the filling ingredients and mix 'era well.

* Pour the mix into the unbaked pie shell and put it in the oven. After 15 minutes at 425 degrees, turn the oven down to 350 and continue baking for another 35 to 40 minutes, or until you can stick a knife into the center and it comes out clean.

* Let the pie cool before cutting it, and serve it with the whipped topping.

295 calories, 25 percent fat (8 grams), 48 grams carbohydrate, 8 grams protein per serving

To the rescue

If you feel your meal is headed for catastrophe, call the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line at 800-323-4848 any time on Thanksgiving. They'll help you avert disaster, and you won't have to endure the shame of begging Aunt Agatha for help.

Registered dietitian Kim Galeaz has convinced the man of her house to use an oven cooking bag.