Thanksgiving is one of the hardest times of the year to eat healthy. With all the abundant food choices tempting you, it’s almost a tradition to overindulge. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can set reasonable portion sizes and serve healthier dishes so you won’t have to deprive yourself during Thanksgiving dinner.
These healthy eating tips can make you enjoy a guilt-free feast:
Trim off the turkey skin. Turkey makes a good choice for its protein content, but the skin is very high in fat (not the good kind). As you grab for a slice of turkey, toss the skin before you start eating, or else you’ll be tempted to nibble.
Eat breakfast and lunch. And even in-between snacks! Don’t show up at dinner starving, otherwise you’ll be more likely to eat heavy meal which takes longer to digest.
Create healthy sides. It’s easy to get carried away with classic sides such as mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Be sure to come up with guilt-free, flavourful sides without breaking your diet. For an instance, you can serve sweet potatoes instead of the traditional mashed potatoes.
Eat veggies. To keep you from overindulging in unhealthy food, fill two-thirds of your plate with veggies.
Stay hydrated. Drink enough water before and during your meal. This will help your stomach stay full preventing you from overeating. Also, you won’t get any additional calories from soda and other beverages.
Eat sweets in moderation. You can satisfy your sweet tooth the healthy way. For example, you shouldn’t drown your turkey with cranberry sauce, instead aim for just a teaspoon or two. Or if you are craving for more, get a small portion of ice cream or pies.
Leave the table after eating. There are a lot of things to do during the evening. So once you’re done eating, go to another room to spend time with friends and family. Hanging around the table will make you grab some leftovers.
This Thanksgiving, the only thing that should be stuffed is turkey! May your day be filled with great friends, family, and healthy food!