The overload doesn't just come at the dinner table. Most of us start with a festive breakfast, nibble on snacks while waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven, squeeze in a second helping and sneak into the kitchen for late-night turkey sandwiches.
So how you can make sure you have your fill of mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie but still exercise some control? Here are some tips...
*Start with a healthy breakfast.
I'm always preaching about the importance of breakfast. A nutritious breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day!
*Eat a balanced meal, even if it is larger than usual.
Try not to overload on the foods you miss throughout the year like cranberry sauces, pies and heavy foods. Try to balance it with lean, high protein turkey breast, sweet potatoes and veggies. Remember what I always say.... "Choose the lesser of the evils!"
*Be a food snob.
You don't necessarily have to sample every food put out! Many families are "obligated" to visit both your and the in-laws family during Thanksgiving. Plan ahead and chose to eat a meal at one family's home and desert at another etc.
*Don't feel pressured to eat everything.
If you focus on creating a balanced plate, you probably won't have room for everything. And, let's face it, do you really like every food on the table?
*Skip seconds.
When family favorites only appear on the table once a year, it's hard to resist them. Take your time, slow down, and savor your first helping. Does anyone really feel actual hunger after the first round of Thanksgiving dinner? Probably not. Let your food settle.
*Taste everything.
Thanksgiving feasts are just that, feasts, and a chance to try a variety of foods. But, if you take just a couple of bites--rather than a full scoop--of each dish, you'll still get to experience all the foods you love.
*Treat dessert as a snack, not part of the meal.
They're such an integral part of most Thanksgiving celebrations. But most of us consider them to be an ending to the meal. What if, instead of eating pie immediately after dinner, we waited until it was snack time? And what if we only had a small sliver of each one? This will allow the meal to better digest and absorb nutrients rather than bogging the digestive system down. Many times just a taste is all that is required to satisfy our craving for sweet deserts.
Thanksgiving should be a day to celebrate. These tips are meant to help us lessen the damage, so to speak. Eat, drink, be merry! Remember to put the focus on family and FOOTBALL!!!!! By focusing on family events food will become secondary. Many family traditions involve activity such as going to Lasalette Shrine Thanksgiving night to look at all the Christmas lights etc. This is also a great idea as it will help burn some of the calories you have consumed during the day!