Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful, watch football and enjoy the company of friends and family members. Unfortunately, it can also spell disaster if you are trying to keep your weight under control. A single day of feasting can slow down your current weight loss progress or foil your plan to get in shape altogether. Don't be intimidated at your next Thanksgiving Day gathering. Learn how to eat healthily and still enjoy yourself at the same time.
Step 1
Eat something before you go to your gathering. Snack on an apple, raw carrots and celery sticks or some other form of low energy density food. The idea is to take the edge off of your hunger.
Step 2
Avoid beverages that are high in calories, such as beers, wines and sodas. Drink ice cold water instead as it contains zero calories. Have a full glass right before you sit down to eat to further reduce your hunger.
Step 3
Fill the majority of your plate with lower-calorie options like steamed vegetables, cranberry sauce and salad. Dedicate a small section on your plate to candied yams, buttered mashed potatoes, stuffing and green bean casseroles.
Step 4
Eat white meat turkey instead of dark meat to spare yourself calories. Do not saturate your turkey with gravy either as it is high in fat and calories. Drizzle a slight bit over top of it just to add flavor, or replace it altogether with a slice of cranberry sauce.
Step 5
Slow down your chewing pace while you eat. Strike up a conversation with a family member to distract yourself from eating and to resist the temptation to rush through your food. By slowing down your eating pace, you will prevent yourself from overeating.
Step 6
Exercise in the morning before you go to your gathering. Perform any type of exercise that gets your heart rate up like weight training, brisk walking, running, jumping rope, kickboxing or stair stepping. Orchestrate a family walk after your meal is over as well. Try to get as much extra activity into your day as possible. This will help motivate you to stay on track with your eating habits.
Step 7
Create a healthy dessert and bring it with you. Make a pie, cake, cookies or another item with low-fat milk, egg whites, applesauce and low amounts of sugar. Eat this dessert in place of other desserts so that you can still have the satisfaction of enjoying sweets without getting the excess calories.
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