Healthy Thanksgiving Tips

eThanksgiving is known for being a time to spend with family, friends, & loved ones. We give thanks for the many blessings we have and celebrate our time together. For many it is also known as a time for over eating, weight gain, and stress. We often find ourselves communing around the dinner table, like we once did as children, enjoying our traditional family favorites. Although we enjoy the time with the people we love and the celebration shared we often find ourselves feeling tired, sluggish, over weight, and unmotivated to continue with the health goals we had obtained throughout the year. So we have some tips to keeping the thanksgiving holiday fun without all the back lash.

1. Make Time For Fitness:
This does not mean lose your valuable sleep or time with your loved ones by spending countless hours in the gym. We have some creative ideas that can help motivate you and even inspire others to join you. Try organizing a family game of touch football or activities like backyard games to get yourself and others involved in the physical fun. Try walking often. Take a brisk walk in the morning or after meals. Even try inviting someone you haven't had enough time to chat with and ask them to join you. This is a good way to stay active as well as spend quality time with your family and friends.

2. Eat Like a Cow:
A little different then it may sound, this doesn't mean to gorge or over eat. This means graze all day. Try to keep your meals smaller by eating off the fruit, veggie platters and salad dishes all day long. If you try this once you sit down to the less nutritious family favorites you will find yourself eating less and staying full longer. It is good for your metabolism and will help fight the cravings for the things that you normally desire during this holiday.

3. Drink A Lot:
Of Water that is! Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body to keep your tummy full and your energy up. It's my recommendation to stay away from all the sodas and sugary drinks that are readily available during this holiday season and just drink water! Deny the juice at breakfast or a midday beer and substitute that for water for all or most of the day. Saving those empty calories from the sugary drinks to be better used during the holiday party or dinner where you then enjoy a traditional favorite or cocktail. 

4. Be as Picky as You Want:
When scanning the holiday menu or buffet table use discretion and be picky. We often find ourselves wanting to try "a little" of everything. Instead this year try only eating portions of the foods you truly desire. This will help you not over eat but still find yourself completely satisfied. Sometimes less is more!

5. Be a Advocate of Health:
Often guests are asked to bring an item of food to share pot luck style. Try taking this opportunity to do a healthy twist on a family favorite. They can be equally as delicious and much more nutritious. Some ideas like Mashed Cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes, Roasted Sweet Potatoes instead of Candied Yams, Yogurt Sauce instead of Ranch Dip, or even something as simple as Sprouted Grain Dinner Rolls instead of Regular Rolls. When you make these subtle changes people take notice and who knows maybe next year everyone will try it. At the very least you have a healthy substitute on your plate when you sit down to eat.

Thanksgiving is all about spending quality time with the people we love and showing gratitude for the wonderful blessings we have. One of the most important gifts we have is our health. So following some of these simple steps can be the ultimate way of showing gratitude for our bodies as well as keep you feeling healthy and vibrant to partake in the most important part of the holiday...... Loving the people around us! So this Thanksgiving lets spend more time focusing on what comes out of our mouths as opposed to the next thing we are going to put in it! 
From my family to yours,
Happy Thanksgiving!

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