Saturday, November 27, 2010

Our Rebellious Thanksgiving




This Thanksgiving was spent just with our little family of 5. I wanted to do something to change it up a bit. Our family started off the morning early with our first 5k race all together. It was 12 degrees outside! Ahhh...The 5k was called Turkey Trot Trod

Me and my boys with our Turkey Trot shirts
...it's all about the free T Shirts!

We have been training together and we all were anticipating race day. The night before we prepared with lots of snuggly clothes, some power drinks, and our running shoes ready to lace up in the morning!

I have struggled with my weight and health throughout the years and it has really been on my heart to help my boys avoid the painful problem all together. I don't want them to struggle like their Mama. At ages 6, 8, and 10, it was the ideal time to get involved with running. We LOVED the race and hope to make it a new tradition every Thanksgiving.

Our little team of 5



Me with my main squeeze...


Seeing my boys run has always made me feel PERFECT inside...ever since they were toddlers. It is a symbol of their health and happiness, so watching them run assures me that all is good in life. When I'm feeling stressed or anxious on bad days, the images of them running bring me peace. And of all things we desire in our little lives, the health and happiness of our children are paramount.

Titus is the cutest runner EVER!
He smiles the entire time he runs.
He had such a fun spirit as well, he ran and ran,
happy little boy.


Brothers, Skyler & Kotah, trying to outdo each other...





The experience was perfect for our little family,
in spite of the 12 degree weather.
We can't wait until next year.


I want to share what we found on our back door at home: my little 8 year old middle son's big HEART. He made special notes for each of us to find on Thanksgiving Morning. He peeked around the corner waiting for us to discover them. It's the little things...


To keep in theme for the day, I completely changed up the traditional Thanksgiving menu. I planned a healthy menu for the day. Chris prepared the meal with me. It was our 5 hour cooking date.


After hours in the kitchen,
we were ready to sit down and enjoy our healthy FEAST!

Plum Thanksgiving Table setting 2010

The best part about preparing healthy dishes is all the beautifully colored food to work with!



Turkey Cranberry Roulade with Apple Cider Gravy

Jewel Roasted Vegetables....SO pretty!

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
(these are made with egg beaters, plain yogurt, and honey)

These are fake mashed potatoes....
they're actually mashed cauliflower. {wink}

The dessert was healthily prepared using freshly grated ginger, whole wheat flour, and juicy pears: Ginger Pear Tart. It was delicious! We added a baby mini scoop of fat free ice cream.


We made Pomegranate Spritz family drinks with a lot of tang.
The pomegranate seeds were such a yummy treat! Mmmm

It was definitely an non-traditional Thanksgiving holiday but we loved every second of it. We had some special moments around the table and enjoyed the closeness of FAMILY.


We toasted to the ways
that we each inspire one another.

I hope you were all blessed
on your American Holiday of Bounty.



Recipes found in the Eat Clean cookbook and the Food Network website.

Fun stuff: The government makes me say that this is a sponsored post that I am being compensated for.


This post is linked to: DIY Fall Festival, Under the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff,   Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design

23 comments:

Leanne said...

Hi Lisa! I don't think I wished you a Happy Thanksgiving before the big day. It looks like you had an amazing day. What a fun way to start your day, even though if was freezing. It was so cold here too. I wasn't as brave as you. I decided not to run in our race. What great memories to share together. The food looked amazing too. I'm glad your day turned out so special.

Jane said...

What fun! This is a great new family tradition. Everything looks and sounds wonderful!!! I love your light menu...wish I had started that earlier in our lives. Now my crew expects...no, demands is a better word...a particular menu. I introduced new roasted veggies this year...grumble, grumble on their part, but I loved them. My almost DIL insisted that she bring a bit of her Italian heritage to the table...the best, richest lasagna I have ever tasted. (We all had a taste...then had it for last night's dinner.) We were all so full that we did not even cut into the desserts. I am definitely scaling back next year...
Jane (artfully graced)

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Sounds like a wonderful day to me (except the running, wink). All the food looks and sounds really yummy!! I love that your son left notes for the family. That is so sweet.

Kirsty said...

Sounds like a wonderful day!Good for you for making teaching good health habits a priority!

The Taffs said...

I think that's awesome to run a family race on thanksgiving together! What a great, healthy tradition!

Nancy said...

Very cool Holiday tradition! And the food all looks so yummy!

Ruby Red Slippers said...

Wow-you inspire me!
I love that you did a Turkey Trot together! I would LOVE to follow in your footsteps!

And the turkey roll-we debated doing something like that! How was it? It looked delish...Can you email me a recipe???
Happy Thanksgiving--Love how you shared your day with us!

Jessica Loukota Leimback said...

I am so proud of all of you! Its time to get motivated...thank you for the inspiration!

The dinner looks fabulous! I bet you felt good after that dinner instead of the usual misery after overeating.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Abby Killam said...

This is awesome Lis.
It really is so important to teach your kiddos good habits now so that they learn to love those healthy things. I love the tradition of running a race Thanksgiving morning... it is one we share (well- you share with Mike). He ran a race every Thanksgiving in Boston, we need to start it back up in CO.
I would love the recipe for your menu if you are inclined to share. Cooking healthy is one of my passions and I am always looking for new and delicious recipes.
High Fives to you and your family this year!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Sounds like a perfect day of family bonding!

Jenny said...

Lisa, I adore how you think outside the box for holidays and special family days.

Please be kind to yourself. You are amazing. Your weight is only a small part of who you are.

I'm Thankful I've met you through blogland!

Michelle said...

12 degrees, you guys are committed! Good for you. My kids ran their first race a week ago and I can't wait for them to run a 5k with me!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful Thanksgiving Tradition...b-r-r-r. Maybe next year the temps will cooperate, but doesn't look like the frigid air bothered you guys at all !
Next year, I'm just going to hire you to cater our meal !
If you're interested in the card I sent, let me know. Best deal going for those who send a lot of cards.
See you Friday at the office ???
~sWaMpY~

Traci said...

WOW I'm impressed! Running & healthy food on Thanksgiving no less. I don't do that on a regular day!!! Looks like y'all had a great day.

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

You have WAY more motivation than me! In all of my life I could never EVER eat light or diet on Thanksgiving or Christmas!

What part of the post are you being compensated for {your post doesn't say} - for making the dinner from recipes in the Eat Clean cookbook? I knew there must be some explanation for choosing to start a healthy eating/exercise regime on the foodie-st holiday of the year!! ;)

Judy@cutest-little-thing

Jacqueline said...

The food looks and sounds delicious. It doesn't have to be fattening to be good. What a fun day you must have had, despite the very cold weather! Happy Thanksgiving.

Marlis said...

What a lovely way to spend the day. Your meal looks scrumptious!

Joanna said...

That all looks delish! Love the rolled turkey idea!

Red Couch Recipes said...

My husband and son are runners. We need to look into a T-Day race! How great that all of your run. I have a Skyler too. Your turkey dish looks so fab and so do the spritzers. Joni

KimMalk said...

Your dinner looks amazing, Lisa. What fun that you all went running (or trodding). It looks like you all had a wonderful time. Blessings, Kim

Leah said...

this is amazing and so special. thank you for sharing this.

Holly Lefevre said...

It looks like perfection to me! I am trying very hard to teach my kids about health, fitness and nutrition (it still plagues me)...maybe we will find a 5k next year - the weather will be warmer!

Our family actually prefers the mashed cauliflower!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

Your healthy feast looks delicious!

Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites! Hope to see you again this week! Also, I'd like to invite you to my Holly Bloggy Christmas Recipe Party next Thursday!