“Boiled shrimp with lemon or cocktail sauce is a healthier pick than fried hors d’oeuvres. Try having a pot of a roasted vegetable soup, such as carrot or butternut squash, on offer for guests to enjoy. Other healthful starters include stuffed mushrooms, raw veggies with hummus, and seasonal fruit.

Thanksgiving is a great time to serve family recipes like Grandma’s pumpkin pie or your dad’s dinner rolls. Our advice: Don’t mess with your favorite holiday dishes. But do try swapping or adding ingredients to less sacred one.

• Skip the cream. Use Greek yogurt or whole milk instead in mashed potatoes, creamy soups, and creamed onion or spinach recipes.

• Reduce the sugar. Cut it back by 10 to 25 percent in baking recipes. You’ll barely taste the difference.

• Add some fiber. Replace 25 to 50 percent of the all-purpose flour called for in recipes with whole-wheat flour. Or try half all-purpose, half white whole-wheat flour, a lighter, milder version of the whole grain. If your recipe calls for breadcrumbs or panko, opt for whole wheat.

• Upgrade the stuffing. Replace half the white bread with whole wheat, use low-sodium chicken broth, and add extra vegetables, such as carrots, mushrooms, and peppers.

• Be sodium savvy. Using the flavors of the season—thyme, sage, rosemary, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves—will cut the need for salt.”

CR  Consumer Reports  (https://www.consumerreports.org/healthy-eating/ways-to-eat-smarter-at-thanksgiving-dinner-a2912481484/)

Thanksgiving only comes around once a year, so why not go ahead and splurge? Because gaining weight during the holiday season is a national pastime. Year after year, most of us pack on at least a pound (some gain more) during the holidays — and keep the extra weight permanently.

But Thanksgiving does not have to sabotage your weight, experts say. With a little know-how, you can satisfy your desire for traditional favorites and still enjoy a guilt-free Thanksgiving feast. After all, being stuffed is a good idea only if you are a turkey!

Create a calorie deficit by exercising to burn off extra calories before you ever indulge in your favorite foods, suggests Connie Diekman, MEd, RD, former president of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

“‘Eat less and exercise more’ is the winning formula to prevent weight gain during the holidays,” Diekman says. “Increase your steps or lengthen your fitness routine the weeks ahead and especially the day of the feast.”

Make fitness a family adventure, recommends Susan Finn, PhD, RD, chair of the American Council on Fitness and Nutrition: “Take a walk early in the day and then again after dinner. It is a wonderful way for families to get physical activity and enjoy the holiday together.”

While you might think it makes sense to save up calories for the big meal, experts say eating a small meal in the morning can give you more control over your appetite. Start your day with a small but satisfying breakfast — such as an egg with a slice of whole-wheat toast, or a bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk — so you won’t be starving when you arrive at the gathering.

“Eating a nutritious meal with protein and fiber before you arrive takes the edge off your appetite and allows you to be more discriminating in your food and beverage choices,” says Diekman.

Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner or bringing a few dishes to share, make your recipes healthier with less fat, sugar, and calories.

“There is more sugar and fat in most recipes than is needed, and no one will notice the difference if you skim calories by using lower calorie ingredients,” says Diekman.

Her suggestions:

• Use fat-free chicken broth to baste the turkey and make gravy.
• Use sugar substitutes in place of sugar and/or fruit purees instead of oil in baked goods.
• Reduce oil and butter wherever you can.
• Try plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream in creamy dips, mashed potatoes, and casseroles.

• Thanksgiving tables are bountiful and beautiful displays of traditional family favorites. Before you fill your plate, survey the buffet table and decide what you’re going to choose. Then select reasonable-sized portions of foods you cannot live without.

“Don’t waste your calories on foods that you can have all year long,” suggests Diekman. “Fill your plate with small portions of holiday favorites that only come around once a year so you can enjoy desirable, traditional foods.”

• Skip the Seconds.Try to resist the temptation to go back for second helpings.”Leftovers are much better the next day, and if you limit yourself to one plate, you are less likely to overeat and have more room for a delectable dessert,” Diekman says.
• Choose the Best Bets on the Buffet.While each of us has our own favorites, keep in mind that some holiday foods are better choices than others.”White turkey meat, plain vegetables, roasted sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, defatted gravy, and pumpkin pie tend to be the best bets because they are lower in fat and calories,” says Diekman. But she adds that, “if you keep your portions small, you can enjoy whatever you like.”

Most of all Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day!!

“3 days before thanksgiving

• Defrost your turkey. Thawing a frozen turkey takes time and patience. The best way is to thaw the bird in the coldest area of the fridge with a pan underneath to catch any drips (not on the counter).
• Buy perishable ingredients. Buy your salad greens and perishable vegetables. Wash lettuce leaves now, dry well, and store by packing them in paper towels in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.
• Clean the house and set up the table and chairs. Smart tip: put non-cooking household members in charge of cleaning. If you’re having a lot of guests, you may want to set up the table(s) and make sure you have enough space and chairs.”

Food Network (foodnetwork.com)

3 days before the big day or sooner TIPS! Well lets get prepared if you have the party at your house!

1. Thanksgiving, you can put the finishing touches on the guestroom and set out front porch decorations. Prepare the guest room with fresh linens and other amenities and rake the leaves when you get a chance. If children will be attending, get out Thanksgiving movies or games that kids will love, including BABY SAFE.

2. Double-check your home to make sure you have enough of everything for everyone. Think napkins, plates, serving bowls, name cards—even ice! This is a good time to wash or dry-clean your table linens, too.  Clean house for them and you guys giving the party!

3.  TODAY no later write down the menu if not already done.   Write down any items you’ll need to buy; remember to consider meals for the rest of the weekend if guests are sticking around. Turkey should be first and foremost if it isn’t already ordered. Consider purchasing perishables like milk and fresh fruit a day or two before the party so they don’t go bad.

4. If you’re purchasing a frozen bird, allow the turkey to thaw in your fridge for 24 hours for every 4 pounds of turkey.

5 Speaking of that delicious Thanksgiving turkey—plan ahead for tasty turkey leftovers. Make sure you have enough containers to hold all the leftovers. You may also want to grab a few inexpensive leftover containers at places like the dollar store or Walmart’s or Target, you get the idea!

6. To remember your health be STRESS FREE! 2 Days before the holiday do the following:  Prepare ingredients inadvance and tackle make-ahead dishes where you can. Prepare ingredients in advance and tackle make-ahead dishes where you can. Thanksgiving, clean and peel any vegetables and refrigerate them (keeping them in water can keep them from browning). Set out the bread for homemade stuffing (stale stuff works best), and pre-make your favorite sweet cranberry sauce and creamy mashed potatoes.   Run your dishwasher and make it dish free for the big day so clean up is easier!  SET UP YOUR BAR with empty ice buckets and alcohol not open yet like new wine bottles and harder alcohol on the table with the wine openers if you need them.  Make sure at the bar or in your closet you have enough clean glasses to lay out Turkey morning!

7. Few days before if not already done, make serving extra-easy with a planned layout. Fill the dining table with your chosen serving bowls and glasses, placing food labels in the proper dishes. If you’re buying flowers for your centerpiece, remember to pick those up few or even couple of days before or easier fake lay our flowers (that is up to the hostess and host doing the party).

8.  Night before most Thanksgiving chopping, peeling, or toasting can be done about 24 hours before Thanksgiving. Make the Thanksgiving pies if they need refrigeration after made that day do so, and set out the overnight dinner rolls to rise. As you prepare the side dishes and appetizers that can be made early, remember to set out any dishes or kitchen tools that you will need for Thanksgiving Day.

9. If you have a dessert and coffee table set it up the night before; you can even make a staging area for coffee, desserts, and drinks. Stock with flatware, sugar, creamer, and cups to avoid guests finding themselves underfoot.

LESS STRESS THE BETTER YOU THE HOST OR HOSTESS NEED TO ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING TOO!

“The single best way to reduce the risk of seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like avoiding people who are sick, covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like flu.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC  (https://www.cdc.gov)

“Symptoms of a cold tend to be mild. You may have a runny nose, cough, congestion, and sore throat. But you won’t usually have the aches and fever that are common with COVID-19 and flu. Often, you’ll feel better in a couple of days.

There’s no cure for the common cold. Typical treatments include rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines. Winter is the prime cold and flu season. You’re more likely to be indoors and closer to others when it’s colder outside. Weather also plays a role in the spread of viruses.”

NIH News in Health

“People with an increased risk of lung cancer may consider annual lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scans. Lung cancer screening is generally offered to older adults who have smoked heavily for many years or who have quit in the past 15 years.  If there’s reason to think that you may have lung cancer, your doctor can order a number of tests to look for cancerous cells and to rule out other conditions.  An X-ray image of your lungs, a sample of abnormal cells may be removed in a procedure called a biopsy, and doing the staging of the cancer.”

MAYO CLINIC

“The two major types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

SCLC accounts for about 13 percentTrusted Source of all lung cancers. It’s less common than NSCLC, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

However, SCLC is the more aggressive form of lung cancer. With SCLC, the cancer cells tend to grow quickly and travel to other parts of the body, or metastasize, more easily.

Though the majority of lung cancer cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Doctors stage NSCLC according to how far it has progressed. Stages range from occult (or hidden) cancer to stage 4 cancer, in which multiple organs may be affected.

The staging system helps doctors determine the best treatment plan, and helps individuals with cancer and their families understand the severity of the disease and the outlook.

There are several different staging systems used around the world, but the most widely used approach is known as the TNM system.”

healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/lung-cancer-small-cell)

Small and non-small cell lung cancers cause similar symptoms. Sometimes, symptoms do not appear until the cancer reaches a later stage.  The symptoms of small and non-small cell lung cancers are similar, but small cell lung cancer spreads more rapidly. A person may be more likely to experience symptoms after lung cancer has reached a later stage.  Shoulder pain often occurs due to inflammation or muscle injuries. Less frequently, shoulder pain can be a symptom of lung cancer. Although shoulder pain is not a common symptom of lung cancer, any persistent, unexplained pain warrants a visit to a doctor for further investigation. ”

Medical News Today (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com)

“One in five people worldwide develop cancer during their lifetime. Prevention of cancer has become one of the most significant public health challenges of the 21st century. It has a critical role to play in the fight against cancer. Based on current scientific evidence, at least 40% of all cancer cases could be prevented with effective primary prevention measures, and further mortality can be reduced through early detection of tumours.”

International Agency for Research on Cancer   (https://www.iarc.who.int/cancer-topics)