With Thanksgiving just a day away, many are planning and preparing their dishes for tomorrow's big dinner. Before you make that grocery list and head out to the store, take a look at some of these great ideas from the American Heart Association (AHA). It’s easy to make your traditional holiday recipes a little healthier by using these heart-healthy substitutions!

If you are baking:

• Replace butter with equal parts of cinnamon-flavored, no-sugar added applesauce.
• Use low-fat or skim milk instead of whole milk or heavy cream.
• Replace regular sugar with low-calorie sugar substitutes.
• Use half white flour and half whole-wheat flour instead of all white flour.
• Replace chocolate chips or candies with cranberries or cherries.
• Add flavor with extracts (vanilla, almond or peppermint) rather than sugar or butter.

If you are cooking:

• Use olive oil in place of butter.
• Flavor dishes with herbs and spices like rosemary and cloves instead of butter or salt.
• Try whole-grain pastas and breads rather than white breads or regular pastas.
• Bake, grill or steam your vegetables instead of frying.

Some additional healthy holiday tips from the AHA:

• Fill your plate in a balanced way and include different types of foods.
• Start your meal with a salad and vegetables.
• Be sure to exercise over the holiday season, even when things get busy!
• Keep stress under control: plan ahead and take time to relax!

SOURCE: American Heart Association