Thanksgiving Health Tips

I love Thanksgiving. A day dedicated to cooking and baking a delicious meal to enjoy with a table full of loved ones. Does it get any better? For those of us on a health journey, any deviation from our normal routine and meals can be difficult but I am here with some Thanksgiving health tips to help you enjoy the holiday. Remember it’s only one day, don’t let it derail you from your health goals by following these tips:

1.  Try to keep stress to a minimum by planning ahead on who is making what. Prep in the days head anything that can be made early to minimize the busyness on Thanksgiving. Lastly, make a timeline of when everything needs to be cooking so that you can reduce the stress on Thanksgiving Day.  

2.  Maintain your morning routine on Thanksgiving morning. Meditate, get your morning sunlight and most importantly, get some exercise! Set your day up for success by boosting your metabolism and helping blood sugar regulation.

3.  Along the same lines, have a balanced breakfast (and lunch if you’ll be eating a later dinner) with enough protein to keep you from snacking and filling up before the big meal. Think eggs, bacon or sausage, avocado and berries or a salad with protein for lunch,

4.  I love the thanksgiving staples: turkey, classic mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, YUM! You can keep all of the classics but try adding a festive salad, brussels sprots or sweet potatoes for added phytonutrients to the meal.

5.  Eat slowly. Savor the food and the company. Listen to your hunger cues.

6.  Get out for a walk after dinner (and dessert) to help lower your post-prandial (post meal) blood glucose and insulin levels. Even a 10 minute walk has been shown to have dramatic effects on blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.

7.  Most importantly, give thanks, for the many blessings in your lives on this special feast day. Gratitude is the reason for this special holiday and practicing gratitude on Thanksgiving (and everyday) can have powerful effects on your mindset.

Pro tip: use leftovers to make some festive salads the next day! For example: spinach or greens as a base with turkey, cranberries or pomegranate seeds, walnuts, goat cheese, and a festive homemade vinaigrette.