Saturday, November 29, 2008

Thanksgiving Rebel

I didn't eat any turkey. Or gravy. Or potatoes.

And it wasn't because I was dieting.

I seriously don't know what happened to me this year! I went to my sister's house with my other sister, and a few assorted acquaintances, and there was a HUGE spread of food. What threw me off? To those who know me well, this will come as no surprise - over half the available entrees were dessert.

I was afraid. Afraid that if I wasted precious room in my stomach digesting boring old turkey/gravy/potatoes, I wouldn't be able to fully appreciate all those wonderful desserts.

Especially after all the snacky food I ate while waiting for the actual feast.

My first trip through the line was for my two year old, and I dutifully put all the appropriate things on her plate - while looking longingly at the desserts. She sat on my lap while she ate, and I helped her pick at her food - thinking of the cheesecake the entire time.

Finally it was my turn to eat. My strategy wasn't premeditated, I swear. I picked up my plate, moved towards the potatoes, planned on a big spoonful - but somehow breezed right past. Same thing for the turkey. And the stuffing. And the gravy. (Obviously. Who wants straight gravy?)

Before I knew it, I was putting a large helping of this yummy pudding-with-real-raspberries dessert on my plate. Then I grabbed a few of those (totally sinful, and EXTREMELY buttery) crescent rolls my sister made. Then I went for the cheesecake. I was the first one there. Same with the pumpkin.

Are you visualizing the food on my plate? Dr. Atkins would have had a stroke! I had every available carb (sans potatoes), and a sampling of every sweet treat on my FIRST plate.

I'm such a rebel. (Good things my kids didn't notice. Especially my oldest, because I'd made him put down his first plate when all he'd dished up was dessert. Wonder where he gets it?)

I would also like to publicly declare that I do not regret my actions. I know I laughed in the face of tradition, but it was worth it. There's no way I could have downed that much dessert if I'd done my turkey-duty, and that would have been a real shame. And while my Thanksgiving diet was completely void of protein, just think of all the calories I saved! Because seriously - I would have eaten the same amount of desserts anyway.

It just would have made me a little sicker to do it.

15 comments:

LisAway said...

This is my philosophy exactly. Every night at dinner, I eat a small helping because I know there are brownies (or whatever) for dessert and I know I will eat three (or four)large ones, whether or not I eat a lot of dinner. So tiny dinner, normal (huge) dessert. And I don't feel sick. Or put on weight. It's genius, really.

Alison Wonderland said...

Awesome! One year when I was gorging myself on the predinner dheese (yum, cheese) I felt guilty for a second thinking I shouldn't be eating so much so that I could really enjoy dinner. And then i realized that while I like turkey etc. I love cheese. And why shouldn't I eat more of what I love? Your Thanksgiving was based on the same principle and may have been even better. I need to get my mom to put the pies out earlier.

Stephanie said...

Pretty much I don't believe you. You never post pictures or anything, so I doubt you even touched a dessert. I was bodyboarding on Thanksgiving and working muscles I didn't even know I had. I will post a video of me doing that on my blog later. I posted one of Brayden for now. Love you Jen! :)

The Crash Test Dummy said...

How hilarious is that!!! You silly goose!

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Go you! I think it makes perfect sense. You're right, you can eat turkey anytime. Glad you had so much fun. Sounds like a great time. How many sisters do you have? I have 3 and two awesome SILs, so I am very blessed. But I didn't get to see any of them this year. boo hoo.

Kristin said...

I'm a little bit proud of you and especially that your children didn't notice.

Claire said...

That's the way to do it. BEsides, there's always left overs of the main course. Never left overs of desserts. You made wise choices.

Natalie said...

I'm so insanely jealous. If I had known of the lack of desserts at our get together I would have gladly brought some. (I was completely prepared to eat whatever I wanted for this 1 day. It was Thanksgiving after all!) However, there was not a pumpkin pie to be seen. Crisis averted. Sort of. So sad...

J. Baxter said...

Steph - I have witnesses.

Pat - I actually have five sisters, but only three of us were together. No Annie.

Natalie - I am so sad for you. What a tragedy! (But now you can make up for it at Christmas)

Heidi said...

I like your strategy...mine was similar, I guess. My parents always serve Thanksgiving dinner in the early afternoon, so I sampled all the traditional stuff then. In the evening my "dinner" was a serving of each of the 5 desserts. Yummy! Too bad I can't do that every day.

Camille said...

You rebel you! That's ok, because the pies are much better than anything else they serve. Oh, you can leave sarcastic comments on my blog anytime, as long as they are in limerick form.

That Girl said...

I think I am in love with you.

Don't freak out or anything.

annie valentine said...

YOU TOLD HIM WHAT TO EAT ON THANKSGIVING? Of all the days to give up control over your kids eating, Thanksgiving should be the day. Shame on you.

I don't see what the big deal is with Thanksgiving food. I hate potatoes, I hate gravy, I hate stuffing and I loath turkey (unless it's slathered in mayo, cream cheese and cranberry sauce on soft white bread).

I think this year you got it right. Go straight for the sugar and don't look back.

Kelly said...

I am glad you had a food-filled Thanksgiving. Mine was good too, and so was leftovers that night, and the day after, and the day after...does that take us into Saturday? Yeah, that's how it went for me. So good.

Kellie said...

Sweet! I've never had the guts to actually do that, although I've always wanted to. Maybe next year I'll do it and think of you!