Trimming the fat from your diet is not only a quick way to cut calories; it's a healthier way of eating. There is no reason why a holiday meal needs to go straight to your waistline, either. If you are looking to trim some fat from the traditional bird this year, follow some simple tips and you won't have to be afraid to total up the calories when you sit down to eat that Thanksgiving turkey.
Step 1
Select turkey breast as the main dish instead of roasting a whole bird. You will be consuming fewer calories and less fat. White breast meat is leaner and low in saturated fat. Skinless turkey breast is an even leaner source of meat protein that is just as delicious.
Step 2
Eat something filling before you start preparing the big dinner. You will be less likely to nibble as you cook. Worse yet, don't starve yourself until the meal. Snack on high-fiber foods earlier in the day, so you won't be as tempted to eat too much when you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner.
Step 3
Give yourself a smaller portion. Fill your plate no more than a quarter full of protein from meat. Controlling the size of the portions you eat can make a huge difference. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that people who are served larger portions often are not even aware that they are eating more than a normal size portion.
Step 4
Know that a 3-oz. serving of a skinless turkey breast roasted has 135 calories with 2.7g of fat. Only 0.2g of that come from saturated fat.
Step 5
Load your dinner plate half full with nutritious, heart-healthy steamed vegetables. Balance the protein and fat from the turkey with low-carbohydrate vegetables. Getting your carbohydrates from vegetables, rather than grains, helps to regulate blood glucose levels so your body can burn fat more efficiently.
Step 6
Eat to feel satisfied, not full. It takes your stomach at least 20 minutes to tell your brain that it's full. Take more time to eat, slowing down as you move through the meal. If you talk while you are eating, this can help you to eat less.
Step 7
Go for a walk after dinner. If you have the time, get in some exercise before dinner to burn calories. Walking boosts metabolism so that you continue burning calories even after you stop. Focus on distance instead of speed. It's more important that you keep up a steady pace.
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