According to the Calorie Control Council, which represents the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry, the average American could consume up to 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving, with the dinner itself accounting for about 3,000 of those calories. Yikes! If you're looking for a slimmed-down Thanksgiving, with lighter versions of some holiday classics, here's a low fat Thanksgiving menu for you to enjoy. Just be careful not to overload on snacks beforehand, and keep an eye on portion sizes.

Holiday Dinner Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com

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Green bean casserole is almost as central to the Thanksgiving table as turkey and pumpkin pie. To be honest, I've never really cared for it -- the traditional version, that is. But I do enjoy this healthier version of this Thanksgiving classic, which transforms the more-usual salty and fat-laden side dish into a guilt-free green bean casserole that's fresh, healthy, and delicious.

Green Bean Casserole Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com

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By effectively revoking the "generally recognized as safe" status of partially hydrogenated oils, the FDA has signalled the end to artificial trans fats. Although today's announcement is deemed a preliminary determination, it would be hard for food companies to prove the safety of partially hydrogenated oils. The Institute of Medicine, for example, concluded there is no "safe" level for the intake of trans fats; these fats have been shown to not only raise the level of so-called bad (LDL) cholesterol, but also deplete levels of good (HDL) cholesterol.

According to Michael Jacobsen, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a group that has long lobbied for the banning of trans fats, "Getting rid of artificial trans fats is one of the most important life-saving measures the FDA could take. Thousands of heart attack deaths will be prevented in the years ahead." While many food companies, including big-name fast-food restaurants, have adopted different oils and fats for their products in recent years, others have not.

Canned frostings, frozen pies and pie crusts, canned cinnamon rolls, cookie dough, buttery popcorn, coffee creamers, and some fast-food meals still contain artificial trans fats. Even a "0g of trans fats" label on a package can be misleading, since zero is classed as 0.5g or less per serving. Those half grams can soon add up.

The food industry, health officials, and the public have 60 days to comment of the FDA's proposal.

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Latkes might not usually be a part of a Thanksgiving meal, but for many this year latkes will take their place alongside the cranberry sauce and gravy. The reason? Hanukkah and Thanksgiving will coincide for the first time since 1888. Now latkes are not an especially low-fat dish -- indeed, oil is a key symbol of Hanukkah -- so it's hardly surprising. So the key to lower-fat latkes is to bake them at a high temperature rather than fry them in oil. To make them crispy, be sure to squeeze out as much moisture as you can, and preheat the cookie sheet before placing the latkes on it. Enjoy these low-fat potato latkes with fat-free sour cream and applesauce.

Potato Latkes Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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One of my favorite parts of the Thanksgiving meal is the stuffing, which, alas, can pack an awful lot of fat and calories, depending on what you put in it and how much of it you eat. As much as I enjoy stuffing with sausage meat or with bacon, I find that meatless stuffing can be just as flavorful. These cranberry-apple stuffing muffins are one example. The other great thing about this stuffing, as you will no doubt have figured out, is that making stuffing in muffin cups means automatic portion control -- and room on your plate for more vegetables.

Cranberry-Apple Stuffing Muffins Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com

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