Thanksgiving is soon upon us, and it traditionally heralds in a holiday season full of indulgences and overeating. Would you like to enjoy the holidays and yet avoid the need to spend January detoxing and losing the 5 or 10 pounds you gained? Kick off Thanksgiving right with these tips for keeping the holidays healthy!
Choose Your Indulgences Wisely
Before you get too festive, take an honest look at where your weaknesses are. Do you gorge yourself on Grandma’s old-fashioned Thanksgiving cooking? Do you have a sweet tooth that gets a little too sweet this time of year? Recognizing the problem is half the battle! Come up with a reasonable plan you can stick to, perhaps limiting yourself to drinking only water with meals, or only having one sugary dessert item at your neighbor’s annual Christmas party this year. Little things add up, so make some small adjustments where you can, and you won’t need to feel so guilty about indulging on the things that it just wouldn’t be the holidays without.
Let Your Body Realize It’s Full
Did you know that the First Thanksgiving feast lasted for days? Maybe the Pilgrims knew better than to stuff themselves full of every harvest food all at once, but many of us sure try to do exactly that! Definitely enjoy your meal, but it may help to then take a break to let your food “hit bottom” before going back for another helping. Plan on some time to digest your meal before having dessert, too. You’ll cut down on the risk of indigestion and also make better food choices when you’re not rushed to load up on as much as you can, as quickly as you can.
Have A Glass Of Water Before Meals
It’s old advice, but it really works! Have a glass of water before the meal is served, and your stomach won’t have as much empty space to fill during dinner. If you choose an appetizer, try something with fiber, like vegetables and whole grains, that will help keep you feeling full and less likely to overeat later.
Cook From Scratch
You probably already know how unhealthy all that processed, prepackaged food is, right? This year, why not make some changes? It doesn’t have to mean raising your own backyard turkey, either! Start small. Did you know that cranberry sauce is very quick and easy to make yourself, and you’d be avoiding high fructose corn syrup if you made your own? Or that instant mashed potatoes contain a lot more sodium and less fiber than mashed potatoes made from scratch? Have you ever read what’s in a jar of store-bought gravy? Yuck! Get a cookbook and get busy cooking healthier from scratch!
Go Organic
Loading your system full of artificial flavors, colors, and other chemicals won’t do you any good. Neither will processed meats, artificial sweeteners, dairy products containing rBST, or produce laced with pesticides. Instead of trying to get healthy in January, and correct the damage done over the holidays, why not start the season off on the right foot? If you’re not used to eating organic foods, just choose one or two and see what you think. I’ve seen organic cranberries in the stores, as well as more everyday foods like organic pasta, apples, and peanut butter. You can take heart knowing that you’re doing something good for your body in the midst of all the holiday indulgence.
Sometimes being healthy is all about your attitude. By all means, enjoy yourself! But consider making some changes this Thanksgiving that will lead you through the holidays with a healthier attitude and better food choices. You’ll be one step ahead of everyone else in January!
