Picture this scenario: It’s a Thanksgiving morning, you have a cozy fire, maybe you’re watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or football. Before you’re even out of your jammies, you’ve already hit the cheese straws and bloody Mary’s. As you do the cooking in your warm and fragrant kitchen, you nibble at ingredients, a little stuffing here, a little sweet potato there… Next you move on to the pre-meal cocktails and appetizers. By the time you sit down for your festive holiday meal, you’re already feeling a little full, but you eat a huge plate of delicious, rich and fattening food… and then have seconds! Now your stuffed, but you sit down to watch more football, maybe take a nap. A couple hours later you have two different kinds of pie with whipped cream… and another meal later!! Not only do you feel sluggish and bloated, but the guilt about derailing your healthy eating plan starts to creep in. We’ve all had holidays like this, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Below are some ideas to help you enjoy your day without derailing your healthy eating plan.
- Exercise on the holiday morning AND take a nice walk after your main meal. It’s a great way to connect with family and friends, and will keep you from feeling bloated and sleepy.
- Avoid carbs early in the day. Yep, I said that… if for no other reason than that you will have more appetite for your main meal. Try celery and any other raw veggies, olives, nuts, fruit, or cheese (without the crackers.)
- Try to limit or avoid alcohol. I would suggest not drinking early in the day, and limiting yourself to one or two drinks, preferably not eggnog. Spiked eggnog can contain as mainly as 400 calories in a small cup! Plus, alcohol can lower our resolve when it comes to making good food choices.
- Stay hydrated. I recommend drinking lots of water throughout the day, especially if you do drink any alcoholic beverages. It will keep your energy up and help you to feel full with less food. Additionally, our bodies need to be properly hydrated for optimal digestion.
- As we all know, holiday food is often very rich and filling… and fattening. Try eating more slowly and mindfully, focusing on your loved ones, all you have to be thankful for, and every delicious bite. You will fill up on less without avoiding your favorites. I would also suggest skipping one starchy carb. For example, if you just can’t stay away from the sweet potatoes with marshmallows, maybe skip the mashed potatoes.
- If you know you won’t be able to resist that late night turkey sandwich with stuffing and cranberries, skip seconds at your main meal. I personally skip seconds so I have room for a SMALL piece of pie later.
- Don’t be afraid to skip a meal or two during the holiday season. There has been so much recent research on the benefits of intermittent fasting. It’s real!! I will update this post in the next day or two with links to some interesting articles and studies.
You might be thinking ‘But eating all that amazing food all day is what I look forward to!’ If that’s the case, enjoy!! But by all means get right back to your healthy eating plan the next day. Don’t let one fattening holiday meal turn into a fattening holiday SEASON! It’s really all about balance. My personal philosophy is TRY to eat super healthfully every day, that way if I want to have a piece of pie, the calories/fat/sugar are offset by an otherwise healthy diet. Most importantly, don’t be hard on yourself! The holidays are to be enjoyed!
Happy Thanksgiving.🍁🦃
-LM💗
Lisa Melora 