Healthy Thanksgiving Tips
Obesity is a weighty issue these days and with the holidays approaching, how can you keep your family healthy?
Holiday foods are wonderful, but there are ways to make this Thanksgiving healthier. Shift the focus of the celebration from food to social time with family and friends. By eating lighter, getting active, and having fun, your whole family can enjoy a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!
Eating less and exercising more is the best way to prevent holiday weight gain. But try including a couple of the tips below to make your holiday celebration healthier.
Eat Thanksgiving Smart
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Eat a light breakfast, it can help control your appetite before the feast.
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Include whole fruits and vegetables your menu.
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Drink water with your meal instead of beverages like soda or sweetened tea.
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Serve healthy snacks such as fruits with yogurt dip, or popcorn to ward off hunger while waiting for the Thanksgiving meal.
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Adjust your recipes to healthier versions with less fat, sugar, and calories.
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Eat midday and continue the feast with dessert a few hours after the main meal.
Get Social and Active
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Take a family walk before dinner.
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Increase the amount of exercise you normally do in the weeks before the day of the feast.
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With younger kids, play tag, hop-scotch or have a jump rope contest, with older kids, kickball, dodgeball or Frisbee.
Additional Strategies
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Fill your plate with small portions of foods, that way you can enjoy whatever you like.
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Choose sensible portions of the foods you absolutely have to eat.
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Skip seconds.
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Select foods lower in fat and calories: white meat turkey, vegetables, mashed potatoes, low-fat gravy, or plain pumpkin pie.
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Don’t let your eyes get bigger than your stomach. Check your hunger level on a scale of 1-5 before eating more, one being empty and five over-full.
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Stop eating when you feel full, but could still eat more.
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Eat slowly and put your fork down between bites.
Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
WVU Healthcare