Quick tips for making sure your thanksgiving feast doesn't turn into extra pounds around the middle...
1. Exercise on Thursday morning and take a walk after Thanksgiving dinner. The exercise in the morning will allow you to burn some calories before feeling full and will make you energized for the big day ahead of you - just 20-30 minutes will do the trick. The Turkey Trot at Thompson Park is also a great option. The walk after dinner will aid in digestion and get you out of the house and the endless supply of leftovers and pies.
2. Drink a glass of water before sitting down for dinner as the water will help your satiety and keep you from overeating. A piece of whole fruit, like an apple, is also a good choice for this effect.
3. During dinner, make sure to load up your plate with great protein (turkey) and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Choose sweet potatoes over mashed potatoes for a more nutritious solution. Use savory spices instead of rich creams and sauces. Wait to go back for seconds until 15 minutes after you finish, as it takes time for your stomach to send signals to your brain that you do not require any more food. And remember that it's okay to eat a little bit of everything, but not all of anything.
4. For dessert, pumpkin pie typically has a lot less calories than its pecan counterpart and a small slice of fruit pies can usually be a safe bet as well. Having dessert several hours after your main meal is also a better option than continuing to load up on calories at one time.
5. Enjoy it! Thanksgiving only comes around once a year and it's perfectly acceptable to enjoy some of Mom's cornbread dressing or your wife's apple pie without feeling guilty. Remember that we're all striving for a healthy lifestyle, not a quick fix, and eating clean at Thanksgiving is part of the process.
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