Thanksgiving is a time of family, friends and feasting. Often, this marks the beginning of the holidays when one starts putting on the pounds. By the time New Year’s comes around, often our weight is up quite a bit and some of us are making new year’s resolutions, many of which center around losing weight and going to the gym.
Gaining weight at this time leads to disappointment when we don’t lose it, and then the pounds add on year after year. So if we have a game plan to not gain so much weight, we will not have reason to become desperate to lose it.
Frankly speaking, I can say ‘been there, done that’. This year after having lost a lot of weight and improving my numbers, I don’t want to regress. So, here are some ideas you might want to consider, as well as links to some healthier versions of Thanksgiving favorites. I’m going to work towards a healthier Thanksgiving this year.
10 ways to stay healthy this Thanksgiving
- Remember your health goals, but at the same time, give yourself an ‘allowance’ to enjoy the meal and the company.
- Limit your portion sizes. Before you go for seconds, give your brain time to signal satiety.
- Survey the spread and determine which dishes you would definitely want to eat, and which you don’t care to. Avoid calorie dense foods that you will not derive much pleasure from eating. As they say, make the calories count!
- Have at least 2 servings of vegetables at every meal. More is better, especially if they are not smothered in butter! If you are preparing the dishes, opt for low fat options.
- Drink plenty of water. Aim for at least 8-10 cups per day.
- If you are celebrating with just your immediate family, maybe you could spread out the dishes and the celebration over several days. Not ideal for most people who would like to eat all the traditional foods on Thanksgiving day itself, although it’s a good way to enjoy this food and the occasion for more than a day.
- Avoid social habits that encourage you to eat more. You will need to figure out what those are.
- Focus on enjoying the time with your friends and family.
- Walk or engage in some form of exercise (including the lower body) for at least 15 minutes after you eat. Do this several times a day. Maybe enlist other members of your family/friends to accompany you.
- After the weekend, get back on track with your goals.
Healthy Thanksgiving dishes
Here are links to healthy Thanksgiving dishes. I have not personally tried and tested them, but plan to use several of them this Thanksgiving.
Turkey:
Roast a turkey breast instead of the whole turkey. This also saves on a lot of labor and clean up. I have made it easily in my instant pot.
Naturally sweetened Cranberry sauce
Pumpkin pie for food allergies
Comment below if the suggestions and links above can help you in your journey to health. Share with a friend.
Check out my post Weighing In: From Despair to Hope.
We don’t have Thanksgiving here in New Zealand, but I do notice that it’s a time of celebration? And feasting? Either way it does look like a delicious time.