Tips For A Healthy Thanksgiving

Get Active

Start preparing for the holiday by increasing your daily steps or incorporating a slightly longer workout leading up to your Thanksgiving feast. The day of, make fitness a family adventure by going for a family walk earlier in the day and then again after dinner.

Eat Breakfast

Start your day with a small but satisfying breakfast - such as an egg with a slice of whole-wheat toast or a yogurt parfait - so you won't be starving when you arrive at your family gathering. Eating a small meal in the morning gives you more control over your appetite.

Lighten Up

Make your recipes healthier with less fat, sugar and calories. Some examples are using fat-free chicken broth to baste the turkey and make gravy, reduce oil and butter wherever you can, use sugar substitutes in place of sugar or fruit purees instead of oil in baked goods, and try plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream in creamy dips, mashed potatoes and casseroles.

Practice Portion Control

Start by using a smaller plate. Before filling your plate, survey the table and decide what you're going to choose to eat. Then select reasonable-sized portions of the food you cannot live without. Also, skip the seconds! If you limit yourself to one plate, leftovers the next day will be that much better.

Slowly Savor

Eating slowly, putting your fork down between bites, and tasting each mouthful is one of the easiest ways to enjoy your meal and feel satisfied with one plate of food. Choose whole grains, fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, salads, and other foods with lots of water and fiber to add to the feeling of fullness.

Be Realistic

The holidays are a time of celebration with friends and family. Choose to strive for weight maintenance instead of weight loss during this time. You'll feel much better knowing that you were able to stick to your goals by maintaining your weight during this time filled with extra temptations!