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health 22 Houseboatmagazine.com I'm a guy. Therefore, when I hear "Thanksgiving," I think about seven plates of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing, except I don't really like stuff- ing, so really it's just more turkey and mashed potatoes. Of course, the days of seven plates of food in one sitting are in the rearview mirror, back when I could eat anything and everything I wanted and still weigh about 160 pounds at just under six feet tall. Today? I'm closer to 200 pounds (and by "closer to" I mean "at least") and I have to watch what I eat a bit more carefully, lest I turn into Jabba the Hutt. Plus I've inherited some cholesterol issues from my dad's side of the family, and you don't want to mess around with cholesterol. The solution? Healthy sides to ac- company your traditional turkey and potatoes as you celebrate all we have to be thankful for while aboard a beautiful houseboat. Is there a better setting for such an occasion? When you get right down to it, candied yams and pumpkin pie are delicious, but sadly not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. However, that doesn't mean the alternatives have to be dis- gusting; far from it: many low-fat, low- calorie recipes available taste great. Now, as most houseboats don't have all the cooking implements available to a chef in a fully-stocked kitchen, we must look at simple recipes. Healthy, tasty and simple? Sounds too good to be true! For starters, if you simply must have sweet potatoes, try them with roasted bananas and other healthy additions. Small amounts of orange juice, cin- namon, cardamom, brown sugar and red pepper flakes can add rich flavor to the dish without adding inches to your waist. This dish has less than 150 calo- ries per serving and only trace amounts of cholesterol and total fat. On the flip side, you get good amounts of potas- sium and calcium with this recipe. Another option is carrot soup. One medium carrot supplies you with over one-third of your daily recommended allowance for vitamin A, and carrots are an excellent source of fiber. Almost fat-free and containing only three milligrams of cholesterol, this is an ex- cellent choice as an appetizer for your Thanksgiving meal. As it only requires a saucepan, wire whisk and blender, the houseboat chef should have an easy time of preparing the dish, as well. Green beans are another must-have for a healthy Thanksgiving meal. The vegetable provides fiber and vitamin C, and when combined with red bell pep- per, red pepper flakes, garlic and black pepper flakes, it makes a delicious side. One serving contains only two mil- ligrams of total fat and no cholesterol. Weighing in at 50 calories per serving, green beans are a way to please your taste buds and your waistline at the same time. Bread recipes can be a tricky situ- ation; thanks to the Atkins Diet and other plans, carbohydrates are strictly forbidden for some trying to lose weight. But if you and your guests are exempt from this restriction, here are a couple of ideas to provide you with healthy carb options. Honey whole-wheat bread gives you the nutrition of whole wheat, but the great taste of honey. Ingredients such as rolled oats, soy flour, sesame seeds, unsweetened applesauce and olive oil create a bread that uses nature for fla- vor instead of manufactured substances like high fructose corn syrup. A simple choice, and does not require anything fancy in your galley. Cinnamon rolls are a favorite with friends and family, but can often be loaded with fat. By being smart with your ingredients, you can hold a single cinnamon roll to under two milligrams of fat. The secret? Fat-free milk, almost equal parts all-purpose and whole- wheat flour and frozen apple juice concentrate. Dessert is always a tough place for the health-conscious among us. Tra- ditionally the realm of chocolate, taffy and lemon meringue pie, this part of the meal does not have to be a surren- der to the forces of fat. Why not try a rice pudding? Using fat-free milk, lemon zest, vanilla extract and assorted fruits, you can create a delicious dessert that contains almost no fat and only 170 calories per serv- ing. A classic peach crumble is another. Peaches, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour and oats don't add much to the thighs. As long as you have an oven, you're good to go. Most of the fat in pumpkin pie comes from the crust. To get around that, you can try a recipe that doesn't require one, like Impossible Pumpkin Pie I, from www.allrecipes.com submitter Ani- tal. The pie contains all of your favorite spices, from nutmeg to cinnamon, but only utilizes a half a cup of biscuit bak- ing mix to provide some stability. So there you have it: several ideas on how to provide a great Thanksgiv- ing meal to your loved ones while on a houseboat, without causing anyone to fall off the healthy bandwagon. For more ideas on healthy recipes, visit www.mayoclinic.com/health or www. allrecipes.com/HowTo/Healthy-Thanks- giving-Recipes. Thanksgiving Waist Watchers How to eat right and stay healthy By Brandon Barrus house boat magazin