Thanksgiving is a festive time with friends and family but so often we tend to overdo it. I put together a little guideline to help keep us in check for the beginning of this decadent season.
1. Try not to “prepare” for the festive meal by starving yourself the day before and the day of. Your best bet to prepare is to eat your regular meals so you are not starving. Also, your metabolism will be up to speed instead of it being stopped to a halt due to no fuel. This will help you digest your food faster and may help you not overeat.
2. Stick to healthy portions. Feel free to take a taste of everything, but just don’t take a lot of each. Be sure to fill your plate with lots of veggies and protein and then add the fun stuff.
3. Use the “Eat This, Not That” philosophy:
For your hors d’oeuvres, try to have a crudities with great veggies and dips made with humus or Greek yogurt instead of chips or breads with heavy dips with sour cream
For the main meal, try to opt for the white meat instead of the dark meat with the skin
Go for roasted veggies such as Brussels sprouts and butternut squash with olive oil as opposed to the green bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup and fried onions.
For dessert, go for the fresh fruit or apple or pumpkin pies (try to skip the crust) instead of chocolate or pecan.
4. Drink lots of water. Water will help you lower your overeating urges.
5. Leave time in between courses. Keep in mind that it takes our bodies about 20 minutes to register what we eat and for our stomachs to let our brain know when we are full. Take your time to avoid those nasty stomach aches and bloat.
6. Thanksgiving is about being thankful and happy. If you don’t follow tips 1 through 5 as closely as you would like, enjoy eating, drinking and being merry and simply get back in the saddle on Friday.
Enjoy!
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3. Use the “Eat This, Not That” philosophy: