Thanksgiving Roundup

Thanksgiving is one giant contradiction. For every article boasting recipes full of feasty foods, there is an equal article about how to avoid holiday weight gain, eat guilt-free, etc.

Guess which category this post falls into?

Whomp whomp.

For real though- let’s all enjoy our holiday but not leave the table feeling like…a stuffed turkey.

Here are my favorite dietitian tips for Thanksgiving:

-Start your day off right. The whole “I’m going to skip breakfast and lunch so that I save calories/prep my stomach for FEAST TIME” is just a bad idea. Eat a breakfast with protein and fiber, such as steel cut oats + unsweetened almond milk + ½ banana + ¼ cup chopped walnuts to give you slow burning fuel for the morning.

-Keep your day going right. Go for a walk. Getting outside for some fresh air and exercise will help your mindset going into dinner. We’re not talking “burn it to earn it” here- you may only burn 200 calories in a 20 minute walk, but it’s more about getting those endorphins going.

-Drink plenty of water. Yeah it’s tempting to tap into the wine and enjoy sipping while you cook, or have a cold beer while you watch football. Give your liver a break though and do what your body really wants. Try freezing lemon wedges to act as natural flavor enhancers and ice cubes to boot.

-Wear non-stretchy pants. Yeah Joey had his Thanksgiving pants, but really, not a good idea.

-Set out salad size plates for the big meal. You will be much better off eating a smaller amount of food then assessing if you want seconds. Fill up half your small plate with white meat turkey. Hitting the protein first will help your body’s natural satisfaction cues kick in sooner than if you started off with mashed potatoes. Carbs will make your brain screeeeeeam for more carbs.

-Don’t be afraid to use some white lies. Aunty Whatsherface calls you out for not taking a heap of her stuffing? “Oh you’re right- I’ll be sure to grab some in a bit.” Uncle Whoozhisname gives you a hard time for picking that small plate in the first place? “Oh I’ll be sure to come back for seconds.” They don’t need to know you don’t actually follow through.

-Slice up your own piece of pie. YOU get to be in charge of how much you want. You only want a sliver? Go for it. If you want a large piece, well, you get to decide that. Too often we default to eating the amount that other people think we want. 

-Create another focal point of the day. If eating is the only thing on the agenda, that could lead to trouble. Go for a post-meal walk. Consider setting up the Christmas tree. Go to the movies. Put on some music and dance around while you all clean up. Bust out some crafts for kids and adults. 

Happy travels! Happy holiday! Peace, love, and turkey.