I don’t know how it happened but Thanksgiving is upon us already!!! I was looking for some good tips for you guys for Thanksgiving and I like these so I thought I’d share!
1. Eat a healthy breakfast – Start your day with a healthy breakfast, such as two eggs and a side of mixed greens, or any combination that’s high in protein and fiber.
2. Don’t go overboard on appetizers – It’s easy to consume 1,500 calories before the turkey even hits the table. But instead of skipping the baked brie altogether, fill most of your plate with vegetables and healthier choices, then leave just a little room for a taste of the indulgent snack.
An average serving of dip or cheese is one ounce, roughly the size of your two thumbs.
3. Watch your portion sizes – The average plate is 14 inches wide, and we tend to finish 98 percent of the food on our plate. No wonder it’s easy to eat too much on Thanksgiving!
To trick your brain into thinking you’ve eaten enough, use a smaller plate and/or fill half a normal plate with salad.
4. Enjoy your favorite dishes – One of the best things about Thanksgiving is the memories and traditions of the day. Don’t limit yourself from enjoying your favorite dishes, but only have a small scoop of those that are less healthy.
Another option is to practice mindfulness while you’re eating. Don’t munch mindlessly — slow down and really savor and enjoy what you’re eating. Don’t eat out of bags or bowls — put your food on a plate.
5. Try new, healthier versions of your favorite recipes – 21 Day Fix-creator Autumn Calabrese and her brother, chef Bobby Calabrese created an incredible menu of Fix-approved Thanksgiving recipes for their cooking show FIXATE that are healthy versions of your favorites.
From Green Bean Casserole and Cranberry Sauce to stuffing and Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, they’ve got you covered.
6. Cook a better bird – Find a recipe that results in a more flavorful turkey, or cook a different protein — ham, fish, or chicken — that you’ll enjoy on its own, and have only moderate portions of the heavy sides.
7. Get everyone involved – Take some of the pressure off yourself and ask guests to bring a healthy side dish or dessert.
If you think they might be stumped, you could even provide them with a list of healthy side dishes they could make.
Going to someone else’s Thanksgiving dinner? Bring a healthy side dish of your own.
8. Go easy on the booze – Limit yourself to one drink before or during dinner and one drink after dinner. Drinking too much alcohol can increase your craving for salt and may set you up to eat 30 percent more than you intended.
Get tipsy at dinner and all your inhibitions will be down by the time dessert comes. Two pieces of pie, a couple of cookies, a scoop of ice cream later… and you’ll need a forklift to get you off the couch and a cab to take you home.
9. Forgive yourself – Did you read this and still overeat? Don’t beat yourself up about it; it happened, now move on. Get up and encourage someone to take a walk with you.
If it’s too cold for a walk, break out a game of Twister or fire up Beachbody On Demand and do a fun family workout like Double Time. Getting moving will ease some of your guilt and also start the digestion process.
10. Remember why you’re there – Between the football game and your sister’s amazing pumpkin pie, take a moment to pause and reflect on what you’re thankful for this year. As tasty as the dishes are, nothing compares to the people we share it with!
