Jerry the Blogger

We all have this notion that Thanksgiving means stuffing ourselves silly with lots of high-calorie, high-fat foods. It doesn't have to be that way. In fact, many traditional (and some not-so-traditional) dishes can actually be quite nutritious -- if you know what to go for.

Take the skin off the turkey -- the white meat is lean, and without the fatty skin, you'll consumer far fewer calories.

Keep the cranberries simple -- as long as you don't add tons of sugar and other ingredients, cranberries have lots of antioxidants and are quite tart and tasty (a sugar substitute helps cut down on the tartness).

Sweet potatoes -- minus the marshmallows, you can get plenty of fiber and vitamin A from this colorful vegetable.

Remember the greens -- among all those carbs and proteins on the table, add some green with fresh steamed veggies, such as green beans or spinach.

Whole-grain rolls -- opt for whole-grain over traditional white rolls to up the fiber content and make these better for you.

Other tips to remember: eat slowly and stick to one plate (second and third helpings will only make you sorry later!) After dinner, take a nice, brisk walk with a family member to work off some calories and catch up. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

If you've ever seen Finding Nemo (and readers with young kids surely have -- at least a few dozen times), you know the mantra from the shark "support" group: "Fish are our friends, NOT food." A very funny part of the movie, to be sure. But when it comes to our health, fish really are our friends when they're our food.

You may know fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which may help prevent heart disease. But did you know how you cook fish can make a difference in how good it is for you? A new study revealed that baking or boiling fish (rather than fried, dried or salted fish) results in more benefits from those omega-3s.

Researchers also discovered adding low-sodium soy sauce or tofu to fish is a good idea for women, possibly because they contain other active ingredients that might have a stronger cardioprotective effect than eating just omega-3s.

Not a big fan of fish? Maybe you should try some new recipes. I've had great success with some of the fish recipes on Start Making Choices -- even our 3-year-old likes them (and that's no small feat). Here are a few delicious fish dishes to help your heart and please your tastebuds:

Chile-Lime Salmon with Asparagus Almond Brown Rice: Baked salmon drizzled with a spicy chile lime sauce served over brown rice with asparagus and almonds.

Baked Red Snapper: Flaky snapper fillets drenched in a flavorful combination of lemon juice, shallots and garlic

Baked Tilapia with Corn and Tomatoes: Dill-seasoned tilapia with corn and tomatoes baked in foil packets for a quick and easy meal

Grilled Halibut Sandwiches: Tender grilled halibut served on a Kaiser roll and homemade tartar sauce

Grilled Tuna with Roasted Corn & Avocado Relish: Grilled tuna steaks topped with a smoky corn and avocado relish

When I'm "on a diet," I'm not a very happy person. The whole thing feels so restrictive and punishing. Even though I know I'm eating a certain way to lose pounds -- which would make me very happy -- I find it impossible to stay cheery while crunching on celery stalks and gulping endless glasses of water.

Maybe that's why I found the results of this study so interesting. According to CNN, a new research study showed that "people who spend a full year on a strict low- carbohydrate diet can lose weight, but they might be happier -- and lose just as many pounds -- if they focus on reducing fat intake instead of carbohydrates."

Honestly, I've done multiple types of diets over the years. Some were low-fat, others low-carb. It doesn't matter what the diet was, I was never happy with it. Sure, I liked the results of weight loss. But sticking to any hard-and-fast regimen with its do's and don't's, rules, calorie counting, etc. just made me miserable.

That's why I try to make my mission to achieve overall healthy and balanced nutrition. I never feel like I'm making huge sacrifices or giving up all the foods I love. Instead, I choose to include healthier foods in my daily meals. I seek out interesting ways to prepare food that make it taste great while fueling me for my busy days.

Maybe low-fat dieters are happier than low-carb dieters -- I don't know. All I know is, when I eat well and make better choices, I'm happy. And that's what matters.