Sorry again that it has been so long since my last post. I've been working like a dog through these holidays and its only 6 days now until Dave and I move into our own place, so things have gotten a little crazy to say the least. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, but I also hope that all of you were able to balance indulgence with healthy habits on this historically hefty holiday.
Thanksgiving is notorious for being the one day of the year (okay more like one of the many days of the year) where people feel its more than okay, if not required, to indulge in food and drink, often past the point of fullness. This can be quite the dangerous event for one's diet, and statistically, an overwhelming majority of Americans gain 1-2 pounds JUST on Thanksgiving day alone. On a healthy diet, that would take a week or two to lose the weight you pack on in one meal. Yikes.
So how do we survive these holidays, the ones where our family can't seem to stop serving us second helpings of our most favorite, time honored treats? Well, I have a few ideas that have helped me get through the holidays in years past:
1. Small portions and/or small plates. If you're hosting a party, use or buy plates for the occasion that are smaller than typical dinner plates, This will help you, and your guests, keep your portions in check as you taste the array of delights your friends and family have put together.
2. Bring or serve healthy alternatives. If you're going to load up your plate with creamy mashed potatoes covered in gravy with a few helpings of the creamy goodness that is green bean casserole, not to mention all the warm crusty rolls and crescents, then you may want to fill the rest of your helpings with dishes that err on the lighter side of things. Salads with low calorie dressings are a great first plate for your evening since they can be filling and won't topple you over your calorie quota. Another good idea is to bring or serve lower calorie desserts for the party you're either hosting or attending. Jello dishes, angel food cakes and fruit salads are wonderful ways to keep you from overdoing yourself on dessert after happily drowning in deep fried turkey breast.
3. Drink yourself to fullness. Keep your portions lighter without feeling deprived by keeping yourself hydrated. Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout your meal. It will fill you up and help you digest all the yummy food you ate later. It's truly a win-win here.
The WORST thing you can do on Holidays where you know you're going to have a big meal is to starve yourself all day in preparation. If you deprive yourself all day, you're going to have no hope of restraint when the meal comes. You'll be ravenous and eat faster than your body can digest. This is a recipe for diet and health disaster in the form of a "food baby"...possibly twins or triplets. Make sure you eat a good breakfast and have nutritious snacks earlier in the day. That way you won't gorge as soon as the bread hits the table, keeping your diet...and your manners...in check.
I hope these tips help you as much as they help me on holidays. And remember, no matter if it's Thanksgiving or any other day of the year, always be thankful for your health, mind body and spirit alike.
<3<3<3<3<3
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