One of the benefits of getting older is the life experience and wisdom you gleam from years of living. You know that what may seem like a great idea in the moment, will have repercussions that aren’t worth it. Take overeating at Thanksgiving. As a child, I loved Thanksgiving. Who doesn’t? My mom use to bake the turkey with strips of bacon on top, so that the bacon would baste the turkey. As strange as it may sound, you have not had bacon until you have had bacon that has been baked on top of a turkey. As you can imagine, when one starts the meal with bacon and ends it with pumpkin pie, there is going to be digestive distress involved.
Although we may have the best of intentions to be moderate during holiday feasts, the inner-child can sometimes get the best of us. For that reason, I wanted to give you some strategies to use on Thanksgiving to rein in your inner-child, so you might wake up the next morning energized and ready to go!
Foster mindfulness while eating — Bring attention to your food while you are eating. Slow down your eating. Put your fork down between bites. Savor each bite. Eating with mindfulness allows you to be more in touch with your satiety, so you can ease back on your eating before you feel overly full.
Don’t restrict yourself entirely, but don’t go “all-out” either – Thanksgiving is a day to have some of those foods and treats we wouldn’t normally eat. But it is important not to use the day as an excuse to eat whatever, and how much ever you want.
Bring a healthy dish if you are invited as a guest – Bring an appetizer plate, green beans, or a lovely salad to the holiday meal. You will always have something you know you can eat, and the host will be very appreciative.
Try sweet potatoes (or yams) without any added sugar – yes that means ditching the marshmallows and brown sugar. Sweet potatoes are truly sweet on their own, and don’t need all the added sugar.
Center your plate with turkey, green beans, salad, and yams with a small amount of cranberries — Think of mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pie as condiments.
Choose your treat — What is it you love? Save room for it, and have a small amount. Savor it, enjoy it.
Remember, there are always left-overs — Eat until you feel 70% full. This is a great habit to practice every day, at every meal, but especially on a day when that inner-child may get the best of you!
I want to wish you and family a Happy Thanksgiving! May it be full of healthy food and a treat or two!
