For brunch fans in The Woodlands, Black Walnut Cafe is a must-try eatery for your lazy Sunday mornings (or afternoons). This popular brunch spot serves a decadent menu of morning libations and egg-based dishes, as well as fresh salads, tacos, pastas and other new American favorites. Sample the lobster eggs Benedict or the Tex Mex omelet and pair it with a mimosa or a Bloody Mary to cap off the weekend in style, and be sure to sit outside on the sunny patio if the weather permits.

For lunch or dinner, try the Santa Fe salad or the homemade lasagna paired with a glass of wine or a craft beer. Desserts like Boston cream pie and various types of cakes also taste great with a hot cup of coffee to end the meal. Inside, Black Walnut Cafe has a country club atmosphere, complete with red leather stools along the handsome bar, high ceilings and rustic dining tables that will make any meal feel comfortable and relaxed.

Black Walnut Cafe
9000 New Trails Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 362-1678
www.blackwalnutcafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/black-walnut-caf%C3%A9-the-woodlands-3

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Ben Husmann

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when you can eat as much as you want (and, for many people, as much as you possibly can) without feeling guilty. Although you want to indulge in stuffing and pumpkin pie, you also don’t want to go overboard and wreak havoc on your diet. Here are a few smart ways to cut calories on Thanksgiving — without cutting out the sweet potato casserole.

1. Remove the turkey skin. While the turkey is the focal point of any Thanksgiving meal, you can save up to 20 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving without even noticing it simply by removing the skin before eating.
2. Eat light meat. Instead of reaching for the dark turkey meat, opt for the lighter sections and save about 20 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.
3. Create a low carb stuffing. If you’re in charge of bringing the stuffing, swap half of the bread for veggies like onions or water chestnuts and low-fat chicken broth instead of butter.
4. Practice portion control. The only real foolproof way to eat everything that you want without going overboard on Thanksgiving is by limiting your portions. Split that piece of pie with a family member, or take small portions and only reach for more if you’re still feeling hungry.

21 Ways to Slim Down Your Thanksgiving Feast [SparkPeople]
20 Ways to Cut Thanksgiving Calories [FitDay]
Top 10 tips to cut back on calories and guilt this Thanksgiving [The Ann Arbor News]
10 Tips for a Thinner Thanksgiving [Web MD]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Andrew Lee

The Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Reserve is a 312-acre park that is open to the public entirely free of charge. This diverse, natural area features the stunning landscapes native to the region, including swamps, sloughs, forests, and even white sand beaches along Spring Creek. Hardwoods and pine trees dot the entire area of the reserve, and more than eight miles of walking trails and unpaved dirt trails wind their way throughout the park. If you want to embark on a longer hike or jog, the Judy Overby Bell Trail even connects to the 12-mile Spring Creek Greenway, giving guests access to both.

At the Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Reserve Nature Center, you can learn about nature through environmental displays, dioramas, and mounted specimens of local wildlife. Visit the Rosebud Hill Homestead, a recreation 1820s homestead, before finishing your visit with a picnic at the playground.

Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Reserve
20634 Kenswick Drive
Humble, TX 77338
(281) 446-8588
www.hcp4.net/Community/Parks/Jones/About/WhatWeOffer

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr David.Harrington