Tips on Feeling Healthy Over Thanksgiving Break

46 million turkeys are eaten by Americans on Thanksgiving Day every year. And with those turkeys come mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and dozens of other delicious foods.

While there are healthy Thanksgiving ingredients, such as green beans, brussels sprouts, roasted sweet potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables, there are unhealthy foods made with heavy butter, fat, carbs, and loads of sugar.

This can mean trouble for people who have spent the past few months working hard to achieve a healthy lifestyle. You don’t want it to all come crumbling down after Thanksgiving break.

But it’s entirely possible to have a healthy Thanksgiving without giving up delicious foods. Let’s explore healthy tips so you won’t end up in a food coma this Thanksgiving break!

Bring a Dish

Thanksgiving is full of dishes packed with unhealthy carbs, sugars, and fats. Even small portions of the particularly unhealthy dishes can make for an unhealthy Thanksgiving.

Consider offering to bring your own healthy alternative dish to the meal to replace the unhealthy dishes. For example, instead of having mashed potatoes made of whole milk, sour cream, and butter, bring a nice cauliflower mashed potato dish. Trader Joe’s has loads of amazing cauliflower alternatives ranging from cauliflower mash to cauliflower rice or even gnocchi!!

Delicious Snacks from Thanksgiving Leftovers

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, all we can think about are the delicious leftovers we will have waiting to be eaten for days upon days following the feast. Below are simple and health-conscious ways to keep enjoying your Thanksgiving leftovers for days into Black Friday and beyond!

• Pumpkin Pie Toast – Scoop a heap of pumpkin pie filling right out from the pie and spread it on a piece of whole wheat toast and top it off with granny smith apple slices and chopped walnuts. This will bring your taste buds back to Thanksgiving dinner while staying healthy at the same time! 
  

  Source: Pumpkin Pie Toast

   

• Cranberry Yogurt – A healthy and delicious snack that could not get any easier to make; mix a dollop of leftover cranberry sauce into your favorite yogurt and voila a delicious snack awaits your arrival!

 

 

• Turkey Lettuce Wraps – Buy some lettuce and wrap your leftover turkey, gravy and whatever else sounds appealing into a wrap until the last Tupperware container full of leftovers is gone!

Everything in Moderation

Everyone has their weakness when it comes to Thanksgiving meals. It may be decadent desserts, alcoholic beverages, or mashed potatoes. Whatever your vice may be, know that it’s okay to indulge a little bit, as long as you don’t get carried away.

For example, try to limit how much alcohol you drink to one or two glasses. Or if you’re craving some pumpkin pie, ask for a sliver of a piece instead of indulging in a huge piece that way you still satisfy your craving but don’t over-do it.

 

Go Easy on Alcohol

Alcohol comes along with Thanksgiving celebrations, but you must remember alcohol calories add up quickly. Have a glass or two of wine and stay hydrated by drinking  water so that way you are limiting your alcohol calories and staying sober.

Savor Every Bite

It’s easy to consume all your food at Thanksgiving dinner because it’s all so delicious. But the faster you eat, the less you’ll enjoy it, and you might end up eating a lot more than you need to.

This leads to that death-like feeling you have when you’ve eaten three plates of Thanksgiving food and you need to unbutton your pants.

Instead of consuming the food all at once, practice mindful eating and take your time to savor each bite. Not only will you enjoy your food more, but you’ll eat a lot less.

Stay Active

When you’re on vacation, it’s common to neglect your daily workout regimen and routine. But falling out of a routine, even while on vacation, can carry over into your everyday life.

Try not to miss a beat and continue to stay active even while on vacation. If you need to take a day off for Thanksgiving, that’s okay! Just try to be active the day before and the day after so you can stay fit and healthy.

Whether you go for a nice walk with a family member or quickly hit the gym for thirty minutes while everyone else is napping, a little bit of movement is better than none and will likely make you feel better!

Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what you have, and one of the things you have that matters the most is your health. So, show yourself how thankful you are by having a healthy Thanksgiving this year!

And make sure to contact NW Women’s Fitness about guest passes if you have family heading your way this year. Learn more about our classes to help you stay fit this Thanksgiving break!