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CNN Live At Daybreak
Some Healthy Turkey Tips
Aired November 25, 2003 - 06:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is time to give thanks, of course, and pig out. But if you're watching your weight, watch out for that Thanksgiving Day dinner.
Our Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with some healthy turkey tips because, after all, this is the time of year that really challenges our girth.
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Carol, it's particularly hard for people that have medical problems. A Thanksgiving feast presents special challenges if you do have medical conditions. For diabetes, in particular, wise choices are so important. So fill your plate, half your plate, with brightly colored vegetables. Try to limit the starchy foods like stuffing and mashed potatoes and try, if you can, to skip those candied yams and instead baked sweet potatoes in their skin.
Now, of course, you only should eat the lean meats. People with high blood pressure need to watch the salt and instead of adding salt to the mashed potatoes, you can season them with garlics and herbs and also use low salt broth when making gravy. You can also reduce the fat in your stuffing by baking it outside the bird. And lastly, limit your alcohol because you don't want to drink your calories.
COSTELLO: All right, I don't even know if I really want to know this, but how many calories are in turkey?
FRYHOFER: Turkey is good. It's very low fat and low calorie, if you eat it the right way. Turkey is a great source of protein. And, for example, only three -- a three ounce portion of turkey breast, that's the white meat, has only about 100 calories and about one and a half grams of fat. The same serving of dark meat has about 115 calories and about 4.2 grams of fat. And if you skip the skin, you'll also save 50 calories and almost nine grams of fat.
COSTELLO: That's my favorite part, the skin and dark meats. All right, can't you just like rip the skin off and eat? No, I guess not. So how do you get the...
FRYHOFER: I'm not going to tell.
COSTELLO: So how do you get through dinner without wrecking your diet? Because it's tempting to eat all that food.
FRYHOFER: It's very tough. Well, the first thing, you've got to eat breakfast. Don't skip on breakfast or else you'll be starving when it's time for your Thanksgiving dinner. And take your time at dinner. Eat slowly. Remember, it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to realize that you're full, so talk to your family and friends and aside from the quality time you'll spend with them, you'll also give your stomach a chance to catch up. Also, try to take a walk. It's a great way to settle your stomach and burn some calories, too.
And remember, you don't have to eat everything at one sitting. Leftovers are great. And be sure to share them with family and friends so you won't over indulge. But do leave yourself a little bite of something special.
COSTELLO: Definitely so.
FRYHOFER: Just a little bite is good.
Now, what's your favorite?
COSTELLO: My favorite is the turkey. But I will be watching the Detroit Lions game on Thanksgiving Day and that will probably ruin my appetite.
FRYHOFER: I like the candied yams.
COSTELLO: Do you?
FRYHOFER: Just a little bit.
COSTELLO: Just a little bit?
FRYHOFER: That's my favorite.
COSTELLO: Not baked sweet potatoes with the skin still on? You like those candied yams, the unhealthy ones, don't you?
FRYHOFER: I do.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Dr. Sandy.
FRYHOFER: I fessed up.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 25, 2003 - 06:54 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is time to give thanks, of course, and pig out. But if you're watching your weight, watch out for that Thanksgiving Day dinner.
Our Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with some healthy turkey tips because, after all, this is the time of year that really challenges our girth.
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Carol, it's particularly hard for people that have medical problems. A Thanksgiving feast presents special challenges if you do have medical conditions. For diabetes, in particular, wise choices are so important. So fill your plate, half your plate, with brightly colored vegetables. Try to limit the starchy foods like stuffing and mashed potatoes and try, if you can, to skip those candied yams and instead baked sweet potatoes in their skin.
Now, of course, you only should eat the lean meats. People with high blood pressure need to watch the salt and instead of adding salt to the mashed potatoes, you can season them with garlics and herbs and also use low salt broth when making gravy. You can also reduce the fat in your stuffing by baking it outside the bird. And lastly, limit your alcohol because you don't want to drink your calories.
COSTELLO: All right, I don't even know if I really want to know this, but how many calories are in turkey?
FRYHOFER: Turkey is good. It's very low fat and low calorie, if you eat it the right way. Turkey is a great source of protein. And, for example, only three -- a three ounce portion of turkey breast, that's the white meat, has only about 100 calories and about one and a half grams of fat. The same serving of dark meat has about 115 calories and about 4.2 grams of fat. And if you skip the skin, you'll also save 50 calories and almost nine grams of fat.
COSTELLO: That's my favorite part, the skin and dark meats. All right, can't you just like rip the skin off and eat? No, I guess not. So how do you get the...
FRYHOFER: I'm not going to tell.
COSTELLO: So how do you get through dinner without wrecking your diet? Because it's tempting to eat all that food.
FRYHOFER: It's very tough. Well, the first thing, you've got to eat breakfast. Don't skip on breakfast or else you'll be starving when it's time for your Thanksgiving dinner. And take your time at dinner. Eat slowly. Remember, it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to realize that you're full, so talk to your family and friends and aside from the quality time you'll spend with them, you'll also give your stomach a chance to catch up. Also, try to take a walk. It's a great way to settle your stomach and burn some calories, too.
And remember, you don't have to eat everything at one sitting. Leftovers are great. And be sure to share them with family and friends so you won't over indulge. But do leave yourself a little bite of something special.
COSTELLO: Definitely so.
FRYHOFER: Just a little bite is good.
Now, what's your favorite?
COSTELLO: My favorite is the turkey. But I will be watching the Detroit Lions game on Thanksgiving Day and that will probably ruin my appetite.
FRYHOFER: I like the candied yams.
COSTELLO: Do you?
FRYHOFER: Just a little bit.
COSTELLO: Just a little bit?
FRYHOFER: That's my favorite.
COSTELLO: Not baked sweet potatoes with the skin still on? You like those candied yams, the unhealthy ones, don't you?
FRYHOFER: I do.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Dr. Sandy.
FRYHOFER: I fessed up.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
