Ways to Eat Healthy on Thanksgiving
- Eat when you are hungry during the day of your Thanksgiving meal. Don't skip other meals in order to gorge during Thanksgiving lunch or dinner. If you are hungry and your stomach is growling, it is likely you will overeat and pack on the holiday pounds.
If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, you can substitute high-fat items with healthier versions. Try using egg whites, fat-free ingredients and frozen yogurt in desserts.
If you are heading to a Thanksgiving dinner where everyone brings a dish, offer to bring a healthy dessert. Instead of the typical pumpkin and pecan pies, opt for a fruit dish. You can decorate angel food cake with sliced fruit and fat-free whipped topping. Not only is this dessert be healthy, it's also delicious. - Load your plate with vegetables first. Be wary of casserole dishes though; they are still high in fat and calories. Get a piece of lean meat that is about the size of a deck of cards and remove the skin. You will now have lean protein without excess fat and cholesterol. Use about a quarter of your plate for the yummy items you enjoy. Try a bite of two of each item to keep your plate filled with a variety of food.
What you drink can make or break your healthy Thanksgiving. If you find yourself drinking and socializing you may end up having several cocktails or sodas, which can add hundreds of additional calories to your day. Drink a tall glass of water first. This will fill your stomach and keep your body hydrated. If you do decide to have a cocktail or a soda, limit yourself to only one drink.
When you eat your meal be sure to eat slowly. Chew each bite thoroughly and take your time. If you eat too fast you will still feel hungry and be tempted to make another plate. Stop eating when you no longer feel hungry. Do not eat until the point of discomfort and being overly full. Eat the items on your plate in the order or healthiest item to least healthy. If you consume all of your vegetables followed be turkey, you may not even need to eat the sweet potatoes or green bean casserole you chose. - You may have eaten healthily during the main Thanksgiving meal, but the night is coming to a close and you are tempted with leftovers. As the host, you offer the high fat items and most of the leftovers to your guests to take home with them. If you are taking leftovers home from a friend or relative's house, build another healthy plate. Start by adding turkey and vegetables. If you take home high-fat items or desserts, be sure to take small portions. Split up the leftovers between several plastic containers. Make each into a meal with bite-size side dishes, plentiful vegetables and turkey breast without the skin.