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NUTRITION Dressing or Pumpkin
mashed pie?
Turkey? potatoes?
Check. Check. Check.
Nap?
LTETU’S RTALKK EY Check.
IF CURLING UP for a nap is part of your post-Thanksgiving ritual, you’re not alone.
Tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, usually gets the blame for holiday
drowsiness, because it helps the body make serotonin, a brain chemical associated
with calmness, relaxation and helping you sleep. However, while tryptophan can help
you sleep, it’s not the biggest nap-causing culprit on your Thanksgiving menu. That
title actually belongs to carbohydrates, which are present in holiday menu mainstays
like dressing, potatoes, yams covered in marshmallows, pies and bread.
“Eating big meals that have lots of carbohydrates, fats and sugars requires your
body to use a lot of energy for digestion,” says Millie Smith, MS, RD, LD, CNSC, Clinical
Nutrition Manager at The Medical Center, Navicent Health. “That means there is less
energy for the rest of your body.”
The rush of blood sugar you get when you eat high-carb or high-sugar foods
initially gives you an energy boost. However, because these foods have very little fiber
or vitamins and minerals, they don’t stay in your system long, and your blood sugar
levels drop. As a result, you might feel drowsy and in need of a nap.
“Turkey gets a bad rap,” Smith says, “but it actually contains no more tryptophan
than other types of poultry or even many dairy products.”
PAPER BAG TURKEY Turkey is a healthy protein, but deep-frying is an unhealthy—and
dangerous—way to prepare your Thanksgiving bird. The paper-bag
method of cooking your turkey is a healthier way to get a super-
moist and tasty centerpiece for your holiday meal.
INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS 4. P lace the turkey, breast-side up, inside the
oven and bake for 2.5 hours for the first
1 w hole turkey, 10–20 pounds, 1. P reheat oven to 375˚ F. 10 pounds of turkey and 12 minutes for each
thawed 2. R emove the bag of innards, as well as the additional pound. When the turkey is done—a
meat thermometer poked through the bag and
Salt and pepper, to taste neck, from the cavity of the turkey. Sprinkle into the thigh should register 180 degrees or
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped the turkey with salt and pepper. Add the 170 degrees in the breast—remove it from
1 carrot, roughly chopped vegetables, garlic and lemon to the turkey the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before
1 onion, quartered cavity, and then rub 4 tablespoons of butter opening the bag and carving the turkey.
3–4 cloves garlic, crushed over the entire turkey skin.
1 lemon, cut in half 3. C oat the inside of the paper bag with the
6 tablespoons butter, softened remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and then
1 cup chicken broth add the turkey to the bag. If your turkey is
1 or 2 brown paper bags too large for one bag, you can staple two bags
together to make a bag large enough to cover
(depending on the size of the all sides of the turkey. Pour chicken broth
turkey) inside the turkey cavity, and then fold the bag
and staple it shut.
14 navicenthealth.org | WINTER 2018
