Hooray for a Healthy Turkey Day!

Post-Thanksgiving dinner usually conjures up images of people loosening their belts, falling into a tryptophan-induced sleep, and saying things like, “I won’t need to eat or days, I’m so full!”  The thing is, nobody usually enjoys how they feel after that large and rich of a meal.  Thanksgiving should be a day to enjoy the company of our loved ones and you should savor the special meal, while feeling good after it.  Here are some ways you can have your turkey and eat it too!

Stick with your routine: Many times when we have special occasions where we know we might want to indulge, we skip other meals so we can “make up for it” with the big dinner later on.  This confuses your metabolism and can lead to overeating.  On Thanksgiving morning, have a filling, healthy breakfast as you would any other day so you feel satiated.  This will ensure you are not starving when you reach the dinner table and you will be less likely to overeat!

Think before you plate: Before serving yourself, survey the table.  See what your options are and think about what you really want to eat and how it fits into the overall meal.  If you never have stuffing or green bean casserole, but have mashed potatoes as a side more often throughout the year, skip the potatoes and enjoy the stuffing or casserole in moderation.

Don’t forget your vegetables:  Vegetables provide you with fiber which is filling and may help you avoid overeating.  If you are concerned there will not be a vegetable side dish, volunteer to prepare one, or make a fall inspired salad using swiss chard, cranberries, pumpkin and artichokes which are all in season this time of year.  Green bean casserole does not exactly count by the way, but if you want to indulge, just be smart about how much is on your plate.

Stop before seconds:  Before going back for more, take 20 minutes to talk to your family and enjoy what you have eaten already.  It takes the body about 20 minutes to recognize that it is full.  If you start feeding it before it gets those signals, you might find that second plate of food puts you over the edge into that uncomfortable feeling that sends you to the couch for an after dinner snooze.  Also remember that if you want to enjoy dessert, it might be best to hold off on a second plate of food so that you are not overdoing it.  There are always leftovers to be had tomorrow!

Family exercise: It is hard to find time to go to the gym on Thanksgiving, but there are other ways to get moving.  Have a touch football game with your family, or play a game of charades and the winning team gets to pick out a dish they would like to make for the next holiday!

In addition to following these tips, check out some of our free healthy recipes that make great additions to your holiday table!  Being healthy does not mean having to give up your favorites during special occasions like Thanksgiving.

What will you do to have a healthy Thanksgiving this year?

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