Turkey day is right around the corner, and you're already looking forward to the annual all-you-can-eat opportunity. But while you're salivating on all the mouth-watering staples your meal will have to offer, why not feast your eyes on just how much those scrumptious sides are going to cost you? {relatedarticles}Consider this your caloric reality check. Once you see the numbers, you may lose your appetite, especially when you think about how much time you'll spend on the treadmill burning off those calories. So here it goes... A cup of those mashed potatoes made with whole milk and butter has 237 calories and 9 grams of fat, while one cup of gravy offers up an additional 121 calories and 5 grams of fat. Just half a cup of bread stuffing comes in at 178 calories and 9 grams of fat. That famous green bean casserole is a whopping 165 calories and 10 grams of fat at 3/4 cup. Before you reach for those yummy candied yams, keep in mind that 3/4 cup is an unbelievable 335 calories and 9 grams of fat.

The good news is you can prepare healthier versions of your favorite food with some simple secrets. When it comes to those taters, use skim milk instead of whole milk. Substitute low-fat sour cream, cream cheese or plain yogurt to make them creamier. {relatedarticles}For flavor, use chicken broth, vegetable broth or turkey drippings with the fat skimmed off for flavor. As for the gravy, remove the fat from pan drippings from the turkey and bypass the butter. For the stuffing, use lean turkey sausage and substitute chicken broth for butter to make it moister. In the green bean casserole, use fat-free mushroom soup and eliminate the high-calorie crispy fried onions on top. As for the candied yams, use brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, a teaspoon of margarine and half a cup of orange juice for a dish with plenty of appeal.