Tips to Enjoy Thanksgiving Meal & Stay Healthy

Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner actually less than 2 weeks away, I would like to give you some tips about Thanksgiving dinner and how to enjoy, but still eat healthy and reduce your stress.  Do you know that the average Thanksgiving dinner has over 2000 calories? It can be a real challenge if you are watching your waistline and trying to stay healthy.

I think that most people have concerns around holidays and eating healthy, not gaining weight, and sometimes the  stress that can be part of the holiday festivities.  At the same time you also want to enjoy the delicious foods that surrounds us. Let’s face it we are supposed to be Thankful for the bounty of food and our many blessing.

Whether you are visiting relatives, staying at home, or going out to eat the–many temptations of high starch, high calorie, unhealthy foods, and stress can be overwhelming.  Let me give you some ideas on how to enjoy yourself and eat healthy.

Some Useful Tips to stay healthy:

1. Have a Plan and Stick to It: In America we are a nation that in most cases food is just around the corner at a 24 hour store. Plan to eat a certain amount of food and don’t eat all day long. Eat your meal choosing good protein such as turkey and healthy vegetables, but enjoy your meal within limits.

Remember we all have to reap what we harvest so if we start overeating it will be hard to reprogram our brains back to eating normally. You might even have to talk to yourself or have an inner conversation to remind yourself of your plan. Don’t we all feel better about ourselves if we meet our goals?

2. Don’t be overly hungry:  If you are visiting friends or relatives don’t arrive for Thanksgiving meal half-starved. If you are super hungry your will power is almost useless due to the drop in blood sugar. Try eating a handful of nuts, raisins, of even a piece of fruit that can help kept you blood sugar level stable and  it will help you eat less and make better choices.

Or many people will not eat breakfast since they know that the bountiful Thanksgiving meal is awaiting them in the afternoon, starving yourself can induce binge eating. Eating breakfast will also keep you energy high especially if you’re the one doing the cooking.

3. Turkey  go skinless: Take the skin off  your turkey before eating it will help to slash away some fat and cholesterol.  On side dishes go for smaller portions. This way you can sample all the different foods. Moderation is always the key.

4. What do we do about Dessert: Okay let’s be honest – it’s pretty hard not to eat any dessert! So try eating just 2 to 3 bites of those rich deserts that just look irresistible. Don’t deprive yourself of something that you really want to eat, just stick to your plan and your body and your inner self-will benefit!

5. Stick to one plate of food: Your stomach is about the size of your fist according to the experts. Eat and enjoy the company. Have conversations with other guests and try to focus on the joy of the season and what it is all about. One plate of food will allow you to have enough emotional and physical energy to enjoy your family and friends.

6. Let’s Talk about the Unpleasant Emotions:  The truth is that not family gatherings are as great as we would like them to be. You know your sister-in-law that drives you crazy that has a bad attitude and constantly complaining or those kids of your cousin’s that are so unruly that you want to grab them a set them down, but you can’t.

Just try to remember to focus on the positive, but don’t shove those unpleasant emotions under the rug completely. Deal with them and have your inner conversations or write them down later, it will help to release the unhealthy emotional stress.  Just keep to your eating plan.

7. Don’t be Concerned about Weight Loss: Hey it’s the Holidays! Just maintain your weight and not gain! Sometimes we can put too much pressure on ourselves and our body and mind will rebel by bringing and we start a cycle of bad emotional pressure and feelings of failure. So be kind to yourself and keep to your plan.

8. Keep Moving: Okay there’s no time for regular exercise routine, but there is some ways to get a little exercise. Try parking your car farther away, playing with the kids before and or after the meal. Maybe even suggest to other guests about talking a walk around the neighborhood. Walking around the house instead of setting all day or helping serve the meal and cleaning up all the dishes and such.

9. Drink plenty of water: Good clean water is one of our bodies’ best friends because it keeps us hydrated and is calorie free, but alcohol and coffee can dehydrate your body. Drink water to help fill up your stomach and help with digestion.

Research has proven that “counting your blessings” has powerful health and longevity benefits. Trying to have an  “attitude of gratitude” can help you stay healthier by reducing stress levels which in turn will help you be less likely to suffer from a weakened immunity, depression and other health problems.We all need to be thankful for this world and to preserve this great God-given gift. Let’s all remember to give thanks to our God for all that we have.We do not know what tomorrow might bring. I wish you all the Blessing of a Wonderful Holiday!

I hope the information I have provided will help you this Thanksgiving season. Always eat healthy and try to eat organic or local harvest when possible. We need to remember to “Go Green”  “Organic”  and “Life A Healthier Lifestyle” everyday of the year!”

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Marla

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Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog! I believe in living green, organically, and natural in every aspect of our lives. My mission is to help educate you on how to live green, help save our environment and to help you and your family live a happier, healthier life!