Prepare for Thanksgiving now

November 5, 9:56 PMLouisville Healthy Living ExaminerSarah Frankel

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Louisville Healthy Living Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Stick to one plate on Thanksgiving.

Courtesy of Sarah Frankel

It is not too early to start preparing yourself for Thanksgiving. Statistics have shown the average American consumes between 5000-6000 calories during a holiday meal. This is three times the recommended amount of calories for a whole day!

It’s also the beginning of a long holiday season that extends until New Year’s Day, by which many Americans will have gained an excess pound or more on average. Then at the beginning of the year, many will resolve to lose the weight.

But, if you prepare for the holidays now, you will be able to make good choices, not gain a pound and not have to worry about losing it later.

Here are some tips to help you:

• Eat breakfast - and lunch. Don’t use an upcoming big Thanksgiving meal as an excuse to skip other meals. You will end up starving and eat even more by the time dinner rolls around.
• Exercise - Start your day off with a good walk or run, such as the Turkey Trot taking place in Iroquois Park. Get the whole family involved if you can.
• Make a plan - Visualize what will be served. Decide what you will enjoy and what you will pass up on now before you even get there.
• Take a dish - If you know the healthy choices are limited, make a healthy dish to take with you that you can enjoy and share with your family too.
• Eat one plate - As you prepare your plate, be sure to get a little bit of everything you want and make one plate all you will have.
• Load up on veggies - Try to make half of your plate veggies to save calories and gain health benefits. Go light on the starches and gravies.
• Leave the food room - Once you are done eating, leave the room where the food is and go watch TV or play a game with your family to keep yourself from going back for unnecessary nibbles.
• Drink lots of water - Water helps you feel full and keep you from going back for more food. It also helps flush out the excess sodium and sugar you are consuming.

No matter what, have fun, and if you overindulge get back to normal eating the next day. Thanksgiving is just one day after all, not an entire month.