Before you sit down for your Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, please make sure to read these tips I put together for you to insure you get to enjoy a good meal as much as you get to enjoy your health.
- Don’t arrive hungry – Don’t skip lunch in anticipation of the feast to come. You want to keep your blood sugar stable throughout the day. Aim for a lighter lunch like a salad with tuna or chicken.
- Start with salad or water – At the beginning of the meal fill up with a salad or a full glass of water. This will make you feel full sooner and prevent you from eating way too much.
- Watch portion size – Watch your portion size! A good measure is the size of your fist. Use it to determine the amount of each food group – starchy carbohydrates (stuffing and sweet potato), fibrous carbohydrates (green beans, broccoli), and protein (turkey).
- Eat lots of vegetables – Vegetables should take up at least half of your plate. They provide nutrition and fiber! You can’t possibly overeat on fibrous vegetables like beans, carrots, broccoli, kale, etc.
- Eat white meat – Whether you eat white or dark meat, make sure to remove the skin from your turkey. The white meat of the turkey contains the least fat and is your best choice. However, I love the dark meat too. To balance things out I choose half white meat and half dark meat.
- Skip the bread – Growing up in Germany, bread was the meal. We never used it as an addition to a complete meal that already contains carbohydrates. The stuffing and sweet potatoes in your Thanksgiving meal provide plenty of starchy carbs, and there’s no need to add bread. Again remember, always go light on starchy carbohydrates and heavy on fibrous carbohydrates.
- Use cranberry sauce instead of gravy – Now I know this is more of a personal preference, but what I’ve done for years now is skip the high fat gravy and use plenty of healthy cranberry sauce to moisten the meal. Cranberries contain antioxidants and other phytonutrients that may help protect against heart disease and cancer. They also keep your urinary tract in great shape. Watch the sugar content, though. Some cranberry sauces have too much added sugar.
- Eat slowly – This is one of my favorites, as I am the unbeaten champion when it comes to eating slowly. Pay attention to what you are eating. Chew your food thoroughly as digestion begins in the mouth. Get a chance to feel when you are full. A few tricks to this are eating with your eyes closed (maybe not during Thanksgiving dinner, though), and putting your silverware down between bites.
- Enjoy leftovers – I don’t know about you, but I love leftovers! No need to finish everything served for Thanksgiving as there is the entire long weekend during which to enjoy leftovers and with that quick and easy meal preparation. So, don’t stuff yourself, that’s the turkey’s job!
- Go for a walk – A light walk feels good after any meal. Instead of chatting with the family at the table or in front of the TV, get everyone out for a walk outside breathing fresh air. Walking upright after a meal may even prevent heartburn.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Technorati Tags: thanksgiving,turkey,cranberry,nutrition,walking,portion size,carbohydrates,healthy meal
Latest Comments