With the holidays looming ahead, Christmas for weight watchers is anything but fun. Considering the amount of mouth watering treats serve on the table during this festive season, one would be in a dilemma in either choosing to stay fit or to forget about the fitness program all together.

In the hope to help you enjoy this holiday and stay fit, I decided to post a series of low fat recipes. The first installment is a Christmas Turkey that would not only help you stay on your tracks but will also help you satisfy your taste buds.

Facts about Turkey:
Turkey is low in fat and high in protein. It is an inexpensive source of iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and B vitamins. A serving of turkey is a 2 to 3-ounce cooked portion. The Food Guide Pyramid suggests 2 to 3 servings from the meat group each day.

The portions below represent 100 grams, approximately 3 1/2 ounces, of sliced meat from a whole roasted turkey.

A 3 1/2-ounce portion of turkey is about the size and thickness of a new deck of cards. The fat and calorie content varies because white meat has less fat and fewer calories than dark meat and skin. One gram of fat contains 9 calories, and one gram of protein contains 4 calories.


Low Fat Christmas Turkey
Cooking Time: around 3 hours and 45 minutes

Ingredients:
1 12-14-pound turkey, fresh or frozen (thawed)
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
1 lemon, halved
1 tbsp olive oil
6 sprigs fresh rosemary
6 sprigs fresh thyme
6 sprigs fresh sage
Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
option: Boil giblets and neck to make stock

2. Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat dry with kitchen paper.

3. Place onion, half a lemon and 4 sprigs of each herb inside the bird's cavity.

4. Secure legs with kitchen string. Place turkey breast side up on roasting rack in pan. Squeeze lemon half into a small bowl. Brush bird with lemon juice and olive oil, and add salt and pepper.

5. Place in oven and roast for 15 minutes at 425 degrees for an initial blast of heat.

6. Reduce heat to 325 degrees. Baste turkey frequently with pan juices plus lemon and oil, and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 180 degrees - about 3 to 3 3/4 hours.

7. Remove turkey from oven and let stand for 15 minutes. Transfer to a warm platter and garnish with remaining herbs.

Enjoy your holidays!
note: removing the skin before eating could also help reduce fat intake.

Serving size: 12 people


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