Thanksgiving is just a week away — It can’t be! And, I don’t think I’m the only one having a hard time believing it… Where, oh where has 2007 gone?

Not only does this special day represent a time to gather together and give thanks for life’s countless blessings — it’s also the kick off of six weeks of holiday celebrations! With much of our celebration being centered on food and feasting (just a glimpse of what lies ahead in December!), I’ve put together a quick guide to help you to enjoy a Healthy AND Happy Thanksgiving!

• Thanksgiving Menu Make-overs (page 2): Learn how to prepare old unhealthy classics in new healthy (and tasty!) ways
• Holiday Entertaining Advice (page 12): Relaxed partying tips to make your Thanksgiving a great success for both the guests AND the host!
• Tips for Practicing Moderation (page 13): Steps you can take to stay on the healthy side of the tracks

Thanksgiving is an Opportunity to Bring your Family Together and a Great Way to Make Precious Memories

Here are some fun Thanksgiving ideas for your family this year:

Thankful cards – Make a card for each family member that will be your guest for Thanksgiving this year. On each card, tell that person what you love most about them, and why you are thankful for them.

Recipe books – A few months before Thanksgiving, contact each family member. Beside their name, make a note of their best dish and ask for a copy of that recipe, plus one or two of their own favorites that they’d like to share.

When you have all the recipes ready, compile them into a booklet and print them, using your computer and printer. (You can also use professional services, if you wish, to make a longer-lasting recipe book.) After your guests all arrive for your Thanksgiving dinner, give them each a copy of your special recipe book.

Thanksgiving is upon us and with it comes the traditional turkey dinner. However, the improper storing, cooking, and serving of roast turkey can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria like salmonella, which can cause foodborne illness.

The DuPage County Health Department advises consumers that safe food handling of turkey and other holiday foods is essential in preventing foodborne illness. Here are some tips to share with your family for preparing a Thanksgiving bird safely.

• Thaw the frozen turkey in the refrigerator. Allow one day for each five pounds of turkey. A twenty-pound turkey will take about four days to thaw. Hint: Remove neck & giblets from inside the bird as soon as possible to hasten thawing.
• Do not thaw on the kitchen counter. If you do not have time to thaw in the refrigerator, you may thaw it in cold water, provided that the turkey is in a leakproof packaging, it is submerged, and the water is changed every half-hour. Allow 30 minutes per pound of turkey to thaw in cold water.

Your visit to the historic U.S. Capitol begins as you enter the Capitol Visitor Center. With its soaring spaces and skylight views of the Capitol dome, the Visitor Center welcomes you on a journey of discovery. The Capitol is home to the U.S. Congress and its two legislative bodies, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Through films, exhibits, and tours, you will learn about how Congress works, how this magnificent building was built, and how citizens can participate in this extraordinary experiment called representative democracy.

The Capitol stands as a monument to the American people. It is where the issues facing the nation are considered, debated, and written into law. The Capitol also houses an important collection of American art, and it is an architectural achievement in its own right. History is made at the U.S. Capitol, and the Capitol Visitor Center is your entryway to that history.

Historical Background

Early Thanksgiving Celebrations
In 1541, Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led 1,500 men in a thanksgiving celebration in what is today the Texas Panhandle. Two decades later, French Huguenot colonists gave solemn praise and thanksgiving at a settlement near what is now Jacksonville, Florida. English settlers joined Abnaki Indians along Maine’s Kennebec River for a harvest feast and prayer meeting in August 1607.

Thanksgiving in the New Nation
In November 1775, the Boston Gazette and Country Journal published a proclamation for a public thanksgiving, asking citizens “…to offer up humble and fervent Prayers to Almighty GOD, for the whole British Empire; especially for the UNITED AMERICAN COLONIES …” Two years later, the Continental Congress recommended that the colonies observe a day of thanksgiving after the colonists’ October victory over British forces in the Battle of Saratoga. The commander-in-chief of the Continental forces, George Washington, set aside Thursday, December 18 “for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise.”

As Thanksgiving approaches, cooking the traditional turkey dinner gives rise to anxieties and questions. What
kind of turkey should I buy? Should I buy a frozen turkey or a fresh one? How do I store my turkey?
A few simple steps will not only ease your holiday fears, but will ensure a delicious and a safe meal for you, your
family, and your friends. The following information may help you prepare your special Thanksgiving meal and help
you countdown to the holiday.

Plan Ahead
Plan your menu several weeks before the holiday. Shopping early will ease the countdown tension for your Thanksgiving meal. Ask these questions to help plan your meal. Do you want a fresh or frozen turkey? Do you have enough space to store a frozen bird if purchased in advance; if not, when should you purchase a turkey? What size bird do you need to buy?