In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: You'll be in charge of the menu, and can plan from the start what foods will be on the table. Just be sure to ask if any of your guests have dietary restrictions! It can also be potluck style, that way you have a few options that you've pre-approved yourself. Don't forget the table! If you didn't already know, wikiHow has tons of Thanksgiving articles to get you through your hosting duties. Pick natural, unprocessed foods, prepared simply but tastily with herbs, spices, and fruits, such as lemon and orange. Throw out the canned cranberries and go fresh. Instead of overloading on carb-heavy stuffing soaked in turkey juices, opt for a nutty quinoa. Bacon wrapped green beans? They're just as tasty steamed with olive oil, salt, and pepper! There are many websites and online recipe sites that give detailed "clean eating" menus and recipes. Thanksgiving is a huge trend and so is health -- you have a veritable goldmine of information at your fingertips. When recipes call for eggs, butter, oil, and sugar (just for starters), you have a little wiggle room. Apart from the obvious (like switching sugar for Splenda, etc.), you can substitute yogurt, banana, or applesauce for your eggs or oil or to add body to dips and sauces. To get started, take a look at wikiHow's How to Cook with Sugar Substitutes, How To Replace Eggs in Your Cooking, or How to Use Applesauce to Bake articles. And, yes -- it will still taste good! Gram for gram, veggies pack a lot fewer calories than meats or carbs. If you want to fill up your plate, these are the things you should be gorging on (if they're prepared correctly!) Have a plethora of veggie options at your table -- that way you'll have less room for dinner rolls! For your mashed potatoes, make 25% of it cauliflower. Don't tell anyone and see if they even notice! Stick to healthier oils like olive, canola or walnut. If you're seasoning your veggies, try to lay off the salt; it's the culprit behind bloating. Even though we're fully aware of Thanksgiving being the absolute biggest meal of the year (save maybe Christmas), that doesn't keep us from snacking the day away as we wait for the Turkey to bing in the oven. Instead of munching on cakes and cookies, opt for a veggie tray, fruits, and light cheeses. Since the cookies are in the cupboard (right?), you won't be tempted to go for them anyway! Of course, if you can stay away from the finger foods entirely, that's best. But c'mon, this is Thanksgiving we're talking about here. Will-power and self-control is for holiday grinches. Sure, pumpkin pie is a given. Luckily, it's a lot healthier than pecan pie. And if you don't eat the crust, it's even better. But that doesn't have to be your only option. Stuffed apples or pears -- really any fruit without a crust -- is a great holiday dessert too and much lighter in calories. Take this day as an excuse to widen your dessert repertoire. Never checked out wikiHow's Desserts and Sweets section? There are gems like How to Create Healthy Desserts for Your Family, How to Make Parfaits, How to Make Butterbeer, and even How to Make Caramel Coated Cheetos, Make Edible Gllitter, and How to Make Desserts with Ramen Noodles. Think of all the desserts you've never tried! Urge that schedule if you can influence the time set for the meal. That way, no appetizers are needed at all as you are sitting down to eat early. Also, the earlier start time gives you time for digestion (key to feeling good the next day) and for more activity in your day after the meal is finished. If you are active after the meal, it will help you manage physically and feel much better. Grandma was right, have the beautiful meal on the table at 1 or 2 -- it works better for the cook/tablesetter/clean up persons as well -- then you aren't too exhausted to enjoy yourself! And you definitely need time before dessert. Which you want to savor and not force down, by the way.
Summary: Volunteer to host the Thanksgiving festivities. Revamp your traditional favorites. Cook with substitutes. Go heavy on the veggies. Plan healthier snacks. Choose healthier desserts. Plan your meal for 1-2 PM.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If you want your honey to retain the benefits of "raw" honey, use the microwave with caution. While quick and efficient, microwaving can easily destroy the beneficial enzymes by overheating them. Besides presenting a possible health hazard, plastic containers don't transfer heat as well as glass does. Bottom line: you'll get the job done quicker and more safely if you move your honey to a glass jar instead of using a plastic container. Cooking time for your batch will vary based on the amount of honey you're liquefying, the starting temperature of the honey, and its sugar content as well as content the wattage of your microwave. It is best to start off at low power and use short microwave times. This may take more cycles and an extra minute or two, but you won't ruin the taste of the honey or inhibit the effectiveness of the good enzymes during the liquefaction process. Experiment to find what works for you in your environment, but experiment cautiously. Above 100F (38C), the flavor of honey is altered; above 120F (49C), the beneficial enzymes in the honey start to break down and stop being effective. If pockets of honey have started to liquefy, stir the honey to help transfer the heat. If the honey hasn't started to liquefy, continue microwaving in 30 second increments until some crystals start to liquefy. Continue until the honey has nearly liquefied, then stir until the process is complete. If most of the honey has liquefied but some stubborn crystals remain, you may want to finish the job off manually by stirring the honey vigorously instead of continuing to heat it.
Summary:
Use a microwave cautiously when liquefying honey. Transfer your honey from any plastic containers into a glass jar by spoon. Start microwaving honey in 30 second increments on the defrost setting. Check for liquefaction of the honey after 30 seconds, particularly near the surface of the jar. Microwave for additional increments of 15 to 30 seconds, stirring after each microwaving session.