Healthy Thanksgiving Tips

As sisters who like to eat, these are a few tips that help us have healthy and fit Thanksgivings while still enjoying the food!

Drink Water
When our bodies are are dehydrated, we often make the mistake of wanting food for water. Drink a glass of water about 30 minutes before sitting down to dinner to help give your body the added hydration. Drinking water before will help avoid overeating. 

Start With Small Portions
We like starting with smaller portions because it means we get to taste a large variety of foods. If there is something you particularly love, then go get more. Starting with less will give you time to think about if you really want more. If the food is in another area from where guests are sitting, this means you have to move to get to the food, which makes seconds and thirds a little less convenient.

Savor Each Bite
Often times, when the special holiday recipes come out, that’s also when our fast eating instincts comes into play. If we inhale our food, there’s no time to enjoy it. Carefully chewing each bite not only helps control how much is eaten, but helps in digestion as well. When eating, try to put down your eating utensil frequently, chew really well, participate in the conversations and savor the delicious meal!

Make A Healthier Dessert
There’s bound to be lots of delicious desserts around. To ease the sugar intake, we like to have at least one of our own healthy recipes to share (naturally sweetened of course!). Then limit  taste tests of the others to one or two. You won’t feel deprived of the goodies, but will help decrease the sugar high.

Don’t Think Last Chance
There may be a certain dish that you are excited for this holiday, and may believe this is your chance to eat it. With that kind of thinking, (perhaps for more than one dish), overeating can get out of hand. Remember you can always get more later. If there is something you really love, get the family secret recipe or find one you like for another time. This way you can be happy with a small slice and if someone has eaten the last piece, you can still enjoy your holiday!

Stay Active
Whether it’s a turkey trot, morning football, shopping or spending all day in the kitchen, Thanksgiving can usually be an active day. If you’re traveling most the day or planning a leisurely holiday, remember to stay active in what ways you can. Many activities can be enjoyed with friends and family. And by the end of the day, you’ll have worked up a nice appetite for that delicious dinner and can fully enjoy it knowing you’ve treated your body well!

How do you successfully avoid overeating? 
Do you have any tips for staying healthy and active on this holiday?