The first time I hosted Thanksgiving dinner I was terrified. Mostly I was terrified about the prospect of roasting a turkey. Thankfully, that ended up being the easiest part of my day. With my 3 last-minute tips for perfect turkey and delicious Thanksgiving recipes, menus and planners, it will be the easiest part of your Thanksgiving day too.

For some people, Thanksgiving dinner is all about turkey or pumpkin pie. For my sister and me, it’s all about mashed potatoes. The first thing we put on our plates is a big pile of potatoes—everything else is just garnish. When it’s time to dig into leftovers, I always heat up mashed potatoes and gravy.

We all have one—that special dish that immediately makes us feel good. Mine is Chicken Potpie. Unfortunately, comfort foods like potpie are notorious diet derailers: high in calories and saturated fat. But don’t despair: with these lighter versions of your favorite comfort food recipes, you can indulge and stay slim. These recipes for American classics made healthier keep the traditional flavors of the foods you love, but their calorie counts and fat content are diet-friendly. Put them back in your diet today!

I enjoy hosting Thanksgiving, but it can be taxing—especially on my wallet. Thanksgiving is all about abundance, and I want to keep it that way—without breaking the bank. So I’ve carefully selected my menu this year to include Thanksgiving recipes that are affordable and delicious.

Pumpkin pie is one of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes, but it always seems to hit the table at precisely the point that I internally declare that I can’t possibly eat any more.

“How can I have fun, but avoid gaining weight, during the holidays?”

It’s the most common question I get this time of year—an occupational hazard of being a registered dietitian, I guess. But it’s no wonder everyone wants to know: from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, the holidays are all about the food. And not just any food, but the rich celebration foods we look forward to all year long. When forgoing these foods just isn’t an option, follow these 7 tips and tricks to stay in your skinny jeans all season long.

The thing about a diabetic diet that I don't think most people get is that you don't have to eat special foods or be excluded from what "everyone else" is eating (including dessert). In fact, the diet guidelines for people with diabetes are the same as those for all of us. For the most part, eating to manage diabetes means eating with your eyes open—knowing what's going into your body and when. So, truth be told, if you have diabetes, everyone else should be taking a cue from what's on your plate.

For several years my husband and I have hosted a big pre-Thanksgiving bash for our friends. Until we started throwing these parties, I had done little but set the table for Thanksgiving dinner. I had never carved a turkey before or made gravy, and my pie-making skills were a joke. Now I have it down to a science.

Here are 5 steps to help you host a stress-free Thanksgiving:

Chicken Potpie is one of my favorite comfort foods. What’s more satisfying on a cool day than hot creamy chicken inside a flaky crust? Nothing, unless you’re like me and want to watch what you eat. Suddenly this butter- and heavy-cream-laden dish doesn’t seem so comforting.

So instead of making a traditional recipe that’s loaded with fat, I use EatingWell’s healthier version of this dish to satisfy my comfort-food craving without the extra calories and fat. It’s comfort food without the guilt.

If you asked me to name the one ingredient I cannot live without in my kitchen, I'd say garlic. I use garlic in just about every sauce, salsa, stir-fry or soup I make. I love it for its flavor and I'm protecting my health while I tickle my taste buds—that's great news! Studies show garlic may lower breast, colon, stomach, throat and skin cancer risks. It's heart-healthy, too, as it's been shown to prevent clotting. Find out the secret to all these health benefits and try these kitchen tricks to make the most of garlic's cancer-fighting properties.