Let’s face it — Thanksgiving is the holiday when everyone breaks their diets and begins the downward spiral into bad eating until the New Year. Then, regrettably your New Year’s Resolution is to stay on your diet and go to the gym regularly. (Well, maybe that’s not everyone’s but it certainly is one of my resolutions.) I can honestly say I take part in the downward spiral of junk food from Thanksgiving onward, and it becomes a stressful time. Diving into the succulent turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy and then on to that sweet, juicy apple pie, or even indulging in those turkey sandwiches with mayonnaise and leftover stuffing and cranberry sauce — no one can really blame someone for breaking their diet and piling their plates higher than seems possible. But as someone who has been falling in love with the recent trend of clean eating, reading article after article, I have found some ways to keep to healthier eating as well as keeping up with your daily exercise on Thanksgiving Day. So don’t worry about splurging a little bit and unbuttoning those pants; here are some things you can incorporate into your Thanksgiving Day menu and activities.
Exercise
Huge batches of rich, delicious food will definitely make the average American feel like taking a nap on the couch or switching from a nice dress to those comfy sweat pants. Some serious motivation is necessary, and getting in some exercise the day of or even the next day is a definite must. Don’t let the stress of weight gain ruin your holidays!
Plan a Post-Meal Walk
A brisk walk with some family or friends post-meal will help burn some of those unwanted calories and will likely get you to avoid seconds of dessert (if you even have room for dessert after that huge dish of sides and turkey). It is a good way to incorporate exercise, especially if you are not a runner. It could be a walk around the block or even a nice hike up a trail around where you live. Going at a pace of at least 3.5 mph could help burn around 149 calories in 30 minutes, so lace up those boots and take a walk! Include your family as well to continue that quality family time.
Grab Your Running Shoes
You can plan a post- or pre- run to help that blood circulate. A short run of 30 minutes can help burn some major calories. A couple of miles around the block will get you back to your family in no time flat so you won’t miss out on quality family time. There are some things to be aware of though. Going for a run directly after you eat can be a major health risk; you could make yourself sick or even become sluggish which is actually not working towards the results you want.
Get that blood circulating with Yoga or Pilates
A personal favorite of mine is Yoga or Pilates. Yoga is a relaxing and great way to help digestion post-Thanksgiving. Yoga involves twists, which can help stimulate the stomach and intestines to help those unwanted fats move! Pilates is also a good way to help stimulate blood circulation, as it places a large emphasis on alignment and breathing as well as strengthening your core. So if the gym and running aren’t for you, try one of these! Plan it post-Thanksgiving with some friends and enjoy.
Remember, whatever you choose to do, just try and incorporate some kind of exercise into the day of or even the day after, whether it be going to the gym or even planning a family football game in the backyard. Exercise will help ease that guilt. For any kinds of exercise, though, make sure you consult your doctor if you are trying new things.
The Meal
The meal itself can be very scary to those who are trying to keep a healthy diet or even lose some weight. Some advice is to stop eating when you feel full. That might be obvious, but it is the holidays and people tend to eat until the buttons on those jeans pop. Try and aim for smaller portions on your plate so you can sample everything without pushing the limits. Another word of advice is go for the dishes that you do not typically have during the year, and have less of those that you have often. This will be way more satisfying, especially if you love those sweet potatoes smothered in marshmallows and cinnamon. Besides exercising, eating healthy can help lift those feelings of shame. Healthy eating on Thanksgiving might seem like a made-up belief but it is simply not true. Here are some things you can incorporate into or change in your meal. (You never know; you could end up having a new family tradition added to your table.)
Give Thanks and Dig In!
For a healthy appetizer, try some butternut squash soup. Averaging around 74 calories a serving, this is a sure way to start your meal off with a bang. Using low-fat yogurt instead of heavy cream will surely cut those calories down. If you are not a huge family or do not feel like roasting your turkey, try and get a turkey breast and grill it. It will cut down cooking time and calories significantly, and it is just as flavorful with some added spices (plus, you get those nice grill lines). I know my favorite dish is stuffing, which can be super heavy in the calorie department, so try cutting it down with whole-wheat bread and defatted chicken stock. Sweet potatoes are another great side dish, since they can be made any way and are much healthier than red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes. Another good suggestion is to try and incorporate as many vegetables in your side dishes as possible. Roasting, sautéing, and grilling them are all great ways to keep a diet intact. Proteins, carbs, and vegetables are the three keys to a good diet; just learning to balance them even on a holiday such as Thanksgiving is a huge plus. Try and make your plate half vegetables, ¼ protein, and ¼ carbs — that’s standard for most healthy eating plans. For more information on healthy meal plans throughout the year and for Thanksgiving, check out a few of these:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/thanksgiving/photos/healthy-thanksgiving-recipes.html
http://cleaneatingchelsey.com/read/
http://www.motherearthliving.com/#axzz3JWXDIGgW
Just remember: the holidays are about family and giving thanks, so don’t go overboard and feel awful about this amazing holiday and all the foods that come with it! Happy Thanksgiving!
Sources:
http://www.dailydot.com/society/thanksgiving-explained-15-gifs/
http://assets.inarkansas.com/55766/family-hike-family-walking-dog-fall-hike-autumn-woods.jpg
http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1dexhOpyf1rqfhi2o1_400.gif
http://blogs.plos.org/neuroanthropology/files/2014/04/yoga_three_panel.jpg
http://theliftpilates.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TheLiftPilates_matClass.jpg
http://www.dailydot.com/society/thanksgiving-explained-15-gifs/
http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/168820/10_stages_moms_go_through