When you think Thanksgiving, you probably think of food first, right? Not just a little food, but a LOT of it. So much food that it turns the whole day into a belly aching memory of turkey, gravy, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. But Thanksgiving Day doesn’t need to send you into a food coma, and totally throw off your healthy eating plan. You can still indulge in your delicious favorites (because we would never want to stop that!) but there are ways to switch things up a bit so you can enjoy a guilt-free Thanksgiving feast!
Be Active:
Add a new tradition to Thanksgiving Day to get your family and friends involved in some type of physical activity. Sign up for a local turkey trot 5 or 10K before your Thanksgiving meal or start a game of flag football once the turkey is in the oven. Think about your friends/family and what activities would be enjoyable for everyone to participate in. This just may become the new favorite part of your turkey day!
Don’t Skip Breakfast:
Skipping meals in preparation for your Thanksgiving meal may seem like the best way to cut calories, but if you don’t have a balanced breakfast in the morning, you will most likely end up eat everything in sight by early afternoon. Manage your appetite and pace yourself throughout the day so you don’t go overboard once you see those mashed potatoes and green bean casseroles.
Save Room for Leftovers:
There is nothing better on the day after Thanksgiving than a leftover turkey lunch or dinner (round two!). Before you go back for seconds or thirds on Thursday night, think about the joy of continuing Thanksgiving deliciousness with leftovers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!
Enjoy the Guests More Than the Food:
Rather than making the food the spotlight of the meal, focus even more on quality time with those around the table. Ask questions. Express thankfulness. Reminisce about memories in the past year. Thanksgiving is so much more than just fancy recipes and beautiful decor. What you will really remember is the time spent with loved ones?
Having a healthy Thanksgiving doesn’t need to mean cutting calories and baking with fat and sugar free ingredients. We are all for a yummy and indulgent meal! But by incorporating these four ideas, you will hopefully also have a balanced and memorable day too.
