Tips for staying on track with your health goals on Thanksgiving

1. Exercise the morning of Thanksgiving. This sets the tone for the day and will help you make better food choices.

2. Never go to a gathering hungry. Treat the day as you normally would and don’t skip meals. Being overly hungry at the Thanksgiving table will lead to overeating and uncomfortable bloat!

3. Bring a healthy, fresh dish with you to share, like a green salad or a fruit salad.

Fresh, raw fruits and veggies are often left off of the Thanksgiving table and you may be surprised how popular they will be with guests. An entire plate of cooked, brown food just isn’t as appetizing as one

with color!

4. Make sure you drink water throughout the day!-- Don’t be afraid to take your own water bottle to the gathering to make sure you always have water nearby.

5. Skip the appetizers altogether, or make a small plate and don’t go back for seconds. Don’t hang around the appetizer table if it temps you, which it will!

Try to avoid the cheeses and meats--they are pure fat. Stick with things like veggies and hummus if they are available.

6. Don't over-fill your plate. If you are eating your Thanksgiving meal at lunchtime, it’s a good idea to eat the same amount of food that you normally would for lunch, because when dinner time comes around you are most likely going to want to eat again.

7. When making your holiday plate, take smaller portions of heavier foods like mac and cheese or mashed potatoes and load up on the roasted vegetables or fresh salads and fruit if they are available. Remember, fruits and vegetables contain fiber to fill you up and keep you satisfied for longer.

**Some of the most calorie rich foods at Thanksgiving: Turkey…yep, loaded with saturated fat and calories, mashed potatoes (hello butter and cream?), stuffing (more butter and simple carbohydrates), pie (the crust is the worst part, so if you are having pumpkin, just eat the inside).

8. Aim to feel satisfied, not full. Take your time and let your food digest before you decide to go back for seconds. You don’t want to end up feeling like you want to take a nap on the couch!

9. Watch your alcohol intake. Not only is alcohol high in calories, but it also reduces our inhibitions and often leads to bad food choices and over-eating.

10. Go for a post-meal walk or play a family game of football to get some fresh air, relieve stress, aid digestion and burn calories.

11. Lastly, remind yourself how good you will feel the next day if you treat Thanksgiving like a normal day of eating and don’t over-indulge!

Happy Thanksgiving!

xo Jenny