Top Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has traditionally been associated with a family get-together and a meal together. Stuffed roasted or deep-fried turkey is the center of the meal. Other accompaniments include cranberry sauce, winter squash, mashed potatoes, dumpling, noodles, corn, green beans casserole and bread rolls, ending with a variety of pies.

A definitely tempting meal, which could make you drown your yearlong efforts of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With our sedentary lifestyles, we have to go with either reducing the calorie intake or burning the excessive calories with workouts. Here are some suggestions that could ensure a healthy Thanksgiving:

• Convince yourself that the Thanksgiving meal is much more than just about eating – it should be more about spending time together with your family.

• Prepare your body for the meal well in advance. Begin your workouts well before Thanksgiving and continue them throughout the season. It will help you build a good appetite and allow you to eat guilt free.

• When you are planning the meal for your family, try to opt out for healthier options. Minimize the use of butter and cheese. Make sure there are lots of veggies on the table.

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• Do not be famished before your meal. This may prevent you from simply attacking your meal. It may also be a good idea to drink enough water during the day. A partially full stomach is likely to send signals to your brain to eat less.

• Consume a lot of low-calorie foods like vegetables and raw salads during the meal, so that there is less space for the high calorie foods in your stomach.

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• Turkey, especially the roasted variety, is the unavoidable and most desired part of the Thanksgiving meal. Turkey is a good source of protein; the roasted variety may be preferable to the deep-fried version. The skin contains the fat, so it may be a good idea to avoid it.

• The side dishes high in carbohydrates and sugar like mashed potatoes or cranberry sauce should be eaten in minimum quantities. They will not do you much harm if you avoid the second helping. Sweet potatoes may be used instead of regular potatoes.

• Apple pie or pumpkin pies may be lower calorie deserts that you could opt for, as compared to something like chocolate pie.

• Control your alcohol intake.

• Enjoy each bite of your food. Do not gobble it down. Once you feel full, avoid overeating.

• Plan a nice walk at the end of your meal. While it will help in digesting the food, it will also give you some nice time with your family outdoors.

Here’s wishing you a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

Source-Medindia