From Thanksgiving to Christmas, increased stress and overeating are a part of life in our society. Due to increased stress levels, we are more likely to eat for emotional reasons. The smells in our homes, on Thanksgiving day, stir up childhood memories of happy times spent with family and friends. This can be a wonderful time of the year and with a few tips, we can manage both emotional needs and caloric intake.

Have soup as a first course. There are many soups which you can prepare, days in advance, and heat through just before Thanksgiving dinner. One of my favorites is a pumpkin soup. I use pumpkin puree as a base. I substitute condensed milk for cream and flavor it with allspice and ginger. You can add a little nonfat sour cream and some sliced almonds for garnish, if you like.

Have an extra slice of turkey. Turkey is packed with nutrition and lower in calories than most other meats. Just don