The Thanksgiving Holiday Does Not Mean You Have to Gain Weight 2
The Thanksgiving Holiday Does Not Mean You Have to Gain Weight 2
In addition to smart choices and portion control, we can also substitute certain ingredients for more healthy ones. Try adding extra spices to your meals so you don’t have to add much butter or gravy.
You can also substitute skim milk to desserts and low-sodium chicken broth to gravy and mashed potatoes to add flavor without all the fat. You can also try alternate cooking methods like not stuffing the bird, and letting the fat drip off the turkey, or steaming veggies, and not coating them in butter, in order to make the meal healthier.
Never skip lunch on Thanksgiving, even if you’re eating early. If you’re really hungry when you go to eat, you’ll end up eating a lot more, even factoring in the extra lunch calories.
Just remember to eat a sensible lunch, and not overeat before the big meal. You can also cut your portions on fatty foods by adding a healthy option to the beginning of the meal, like a non-cream based soup, and a salad, both high in liquid and good at helping you feel full.
Many of us do pretty well when it comes to keeping our portions small at Thanksgiving, but depending on how many options there are at your meal, all those small choices can add up to a lot of calories.
Instead of taking a little of everything, pick the things you want the most to eat, and take a sensible portion of each of them. You’ll eat fewer calories, and you’ll probably feel more satisfied because you got to eat all of your favorite foods.
In addition to eating less during the big event, why not go for a walk or do another physical activity after the meal. This will help get your digestive system revved up to deal with the extra calories and burn them off faster.
Or, if the weather is not so great, try an active indoor game like charades so the whole family can join in and bond at the same time.
With a little planning and effort, and mindfulness when you eat, and about what you cook, you can keep your waistline slim this Thanksgiving holiday.
Tags: weight control, weight management
