Thanksgiving is a fantastic holiday to enjoy family, friends, and comfort foods.
But, according to the American Council on Exercise, the average American consumes 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving, which is the equivalent to eating 5.5 Big Macs from McDonald’s or 15 Supreme Tacos from Taco Bell.
The American Dietetic Association recommends starting your day with a small meal made up of elements from the whole grains, fruit, dairy and meat and beans groups. Then, instead of starving yourself the rest of the day, grab small, low-calorie snacks that will fuel your body until it’s time for the big feast. If you starve yourself before a big Thanksgiving meal, you’ll be more likely to overindulge when you finally do eat.
Try to make time for exercise during the day. Go for a walk, take a bike ride, or play games like touch football with family, friends and neighbors. Most communities will have 5K or 10K races or fun runs on Thanksgiving weekend. For a list of events in Maryland, check out the Maryland Running Guide’s November race calendar.
When dinnertime rolls around, choose your foods carefully. Eat mindfully: chew slowly, savor your food, and recognize when you’re full and stop eating. Take time in between bites to talk to friends and family. And don’t deprive yourself of foods you love. You don’t have to skip the stuffing or pumpkin pie, but load up on healthier, nutrient-rich Thanksgiving superfoods like sweet potatoes, winter squash, broccoli, green beans, and cranberries.
Finally, accept the fact that it’s a holiday. Don’t stress or feel overly guilty if you indulged more than you usually would. Instead of panicking or drastically altering your diet for the rest of the weekend, make an effort to eat healthier for the next couple of days.
