Quick Tips to Keep from Overindulging at Thanksgiving

Okay so we all know that Thanksgiving is the day to stuff ourselves silly and then enjoy the food coma all that deliciousness brings on; however, it really is important to keep our food consumption within the normal standards so we don't ruin ourselves for the whole week. 

 

Did you know that the average American consumes over 3000 calories on Thanksgiving and for most women equates to almost 2 days worth of food!!  That's insane! 

By all means go ahead and enjoy yourself but try not to double your daily intake of food.  I know that's hard but here is a morning to evening schedule I found in Health magazine that will help you indulge in the healthiest way possible:

Morning

• Eat breakfast. Even if you don't eat first thing in the morning, be sure to snack before the big meal.
• Sneak in a workout. Stick to your normal routine and try to get at least a shortened workout in. If you normally exercise at a high intensity, there's no reason not to. But if you're not a gym-goer, start the day with a walk that gets your body in gear.
• Make a plan. You can avoid overeating with easy preparation. If you're in charge of the meal, select a few filling, low-cal dishes to mix with all the casseroles, and make a smaller serving of your favorite foods. And if you're not cooking, bring a healthy appetizer so you're not tempted to hit up the cheese tray.

Afternoon

• It's OK to snack. If you're like most families that eat their Thanksgiving meal midafternoon, don't be afraid to nosh throughout the morning.
• Start with a salad. Salads are considered diet food for a reason. They're full of vital nutrients, while not doing a lot of damage to your waistline.
• Balance your plate. Have some turkey and Aunt Judy's fresh cranberry sauce, and save room for pecan pie, but also make room for semi-healthy sides. Choose nutrient-rich vegetables, like sweet potatoes, and the white meat on the turkey, as opposed to nutrient-empty food, like gravy, white bread, or chips and dip.

Evening

• Forgive yourself. If you do overeat, it's OK.  You'd have to overeat by 3,500 calories to gain a pound. Your overall eating trends are what create your weight and health, not one day of splurging
• Get back on track. With that being said DO NOT start baking Christmas cookies the day after Thanksgiving, but instead going back to your healthy routine. Plan a post-Thanksgiving jog or hike for friends or family who are in town to get you out of the house and away from leftovers.
• Send home the leftovers. If you'll be tempted by leftover pie and drumsticks, donate the leftovers to a homeless shelter or send them home with relatives. But if you're stuck with the leftovers create a structure, and combine only one unhealthy treat at each meal with your turkey sandwich on whole-wheat.