Photo of Thanksgiving table. Text reads, "Healthy Holidays."

Maury Regional Medical Center Executive Chef Dustin Starkey joined host Silvia Castañeda on WKRN News 2's Local on 2 segment to give tips for making some favorite holiday recipes a little healthier while still being delicious. Watch the segment below and keep reading for more healthy holiday tips!

Tips for Proper Leftover Storage

Gigantic holiday feasts inevitably lead to a smorgasbord of leftovers that can be dined on for days. When you’re full of turkey and mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving dinner table, do you know the proper way to store them so they can be enjoyed again later?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Thanksgiving leftovers are only good for a few days if stored in the refrigerator. The USDA also recommends storing leftovers within two hours of cooking, packaging refrigerated leftovers into small containers and resealable plastic bags, and removing any stuffing from the turkey cavity and storing it separately. In addition, if you’re planning on freezing your leftovers, use proper freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. Learn more Thanksgiving storage tips by clicking here!

Easy Ways to Cut Calories at Thanksgiving

It can be hard to resist the mouth-watering foods associated with holiday festivities — the average American consumes over 2,000 calories on Thanksgiving alone.

While it’s okay to indulge a bit on these special occasions, enjoying all of your favorites may add up to thousands of calories. There are easy food swaps that can allow you to enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday while saving you calories. Learn more by clicking here!

Get the Right Carbs

Low-carb diets may be all the rage, especially around the holiday season, but you may want to think twice before you drastically cut down on the number of carbohydrates you eat each day.

While limiting carbs may help you lose weight and manage blood sugar, not eating enough of the right carbs may be an unsustainable way to eat. That’s because carbohydrates are one of the three main macronutrients the body needs to function, in addition to protein and fat.

When you sit down at the holiday dinner table this year, keep in mind which carbs to go for and which to pass on. Learn more by clicking here!

Recipe: Healthy Thanksgiving Stuffing

Prepare this easy stuffing in a baking dish or use it to stuff the turkey. This healthy stuffing gets its sweetness from the apples and a unique flavor from the onion and walnut combination.

Find the entire recipe by clicking here!

Additional resources

Nutrition Counseling

Nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian can assist those whose physician has recommended dietary modifications as part of managing a health condition. At Maury Regional Health, a team of registered dietitians work alongside patients to set goals based on their unique needs and help patients maintain results as part of the overall plan of care. Those who may benefit from one-on-one nutrition counseling include individuals with conditions such as:

  • Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney disease
  • Malnutrition
  • Obesity
  • Difficulty gaining or maintaining weight

For additional information about nutrition counseling at Maury Regional Health, visit MauryRegional.com/NutritionCounseling.

Diabetes Support

Managing diabetes and high blood sugar levels can be a challenge. Maury Regional Health offers classes designed to help individuals learn to manage their glucose levels and prevent complications from high blood sugar. Recognized by the American Diabetes Association, this comprehensive eight-hour course is taught by a certified diabetes educator and a registered dietitian and provides resources that cover topics such as medications, diet and meal planning and exercise.

Classes are offered on a recurring basis at the following locations:

  • Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia
  • Lewis Health Center in Hohenwald
  • Marshall Medical Center in Lewisburg
  • Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro

In addition to the diabetes self-management class, Maury Regional Health offers a Diabetes Support Group and Pediatric Diabetes Support Group to provide those diagnosed with diabetes and high blood sugar and their family members with information as well as to review current therapies involved in diabetes care. Sessions are facilitated by a certified diabetes educator and are open to those with diabetes and their family members who help to manage their condition.