Giving Thanks Without Tipping the Scale

Thanksgiving is about celebrating the bountiful harvest, spending time with loved ones, and expressing gratitude. As we gather around the table with friends, and family, returning to the kitchen for seconds, thirds, or maybe even a midnight snack, here are a few tips to indulge, and savor the annual feast, yet feel energized enough to tackle Black Friday head on without the food coma.

Don’t miss breakfast. Not eating all day in anticipation of Thanksgiving dinner will not only cause your blood sugar to plummet, but letting yourself go into starvation mode will leave you eating an entire days worth of calories or more by the time you leave the buffet table. Allow yourself to enjoy your favorite foods, but keep your energy up by having a light breakfast of fruit, and protein, and perhaps a salad for lunch to keep your digestion, and energy operating at a steady hum.

Stay hydrated. As the weather gets colder, we tend to forget the importance of drinking enough water. With all the business of work, shopping, hosting gatherings, and indoor heating, dehydration isn’t just an issue during the summer months. Water, herbal tea, and coconut water help to keep digestion moving efficiently, and flush toxins from the kidneys. Limit caffeinated beverages as they act as diuretics, and can cause us to lose essential electrolytes.

Build your portions around plenty of vegetables, and leave less real estate on the plate for higher calorie foods. Practice mindful eating, slowing down to savor each bite. Stopping before you’re uncomfortably full helps to leave room for proper digestion, and gives you energy to enjoy the festivities versus needing a nap afterwards. A great tips for hosts, is packing up what is most tempting, and sending it home with your guests, saving an extra piece of pie for breakfast of course!