Thanksgiving is almost here, and you can almost feel your waistband expanding already. You want to partake of all the special foods offered at your holiday dinner, but know that you will be upset with yourself and feel very sluggish if you eat too much turkey and side dishes. Some great ways to have a culinary feast but not overdo it include the following suggestions:
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
The first step you might want to consider it to take the time to eat a healthy and hearty breakfast of such items as eggs, whole grain toast, oatmeal and/or fresh fruit on Thanksgiving morning. These items will assist in filling you up so when it is time to eat turkey with all the fixings, you won’t be wildly hungry and want to eat everything in sight. If you eat your Thanksgiving meal later on in the day, you might want to add small snacks of fresh vegetables, yogurt, hummus, or unsalted nuts to your meal plan.
Use Smaller Plates
One way to fool the eye and eat less is to use smaller dinner and dessert plates. Instead of a ten or twelve-inch plate, eat your dinner on a nine-inch plate. This is sometimes very successful in making you feel that you have eaten full servings when in actuality you have not. Do the same with your appetizers, desserts, and even with your salads, especially if you are adding heavy, calorie-laden dressings. This is a great tactic to add to your everyday routine.
Drink Beverages and Take Supplements
Make a point of drinking a huge glass of water or unsweetened iced tea or coffee before partaking of your Thanksgiving feast. This will help make you feel fuller before you actually begin eating your turkey. Enjoy iced or hot tea or coffee with your meal also to keep that full feeling going. Keep drinking these beverages even after eating so you won’t be tempted to go back for late-night snacks.
You may also find that certain supplements help you to curb your appetite or get the nutrition you may be missing in your diet. While these supplements are a miracle for some, others may not get the same results. It’s always a good idea to consult your physician and look at reviews and websites for companies like Xyngular to see if the supplements they offer would be a good fit for your diet.
Follow the Half-and-Half Rule
Potatoes, dressing, turkey, gravy, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, cheese trays, and desserts are all loaded with unwanted calories. Unfortunately, these are all your favorite parts of your Thanksgiving meal. One way to keep your servings to a minimum is to fill half your plate with a mixed green salad and low-calorie dressing. Then allow yourself to fill the other half of your plate with all of your favorites. This way, you won’t feel that you have really missed out on anything—everything will be there but your portions will just be smaller. You will still feel full and satisfied.
You can do the same at dessert time. Fill half of a dessert plate (not a dinner plate) with your favorite fresh fruits and the rest with smaller portions of items such as pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and other holiday specialties. The addition of the fresh fruit will help supply essential vitamins, make you feel fuller, and reduce the overall calorie consumption.
Turkey is all about food and family. If you are like most people, you sometimes should take both in smaller doses. If you do end up eating too much, there is always the next day to cut back and attempt to restore your body back to its original shape—if you don’t eat all the leftovers.
These diet tactics are not just for Thanksgiving Day. You can use them throughout the entire holiday season to stay fit and trim. You can also add them to your everyday routines along with a simple exercise program for truly dramatic results.
