Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Thanksgiving Game Plan

This time of year can be the most challenging. How are you holding up? Don't get discouraged, you can do it and I am here to encourage you. I am assuming that you all survived Halloween by avoiding the candy that your normally over indulge in. Even if you ate some candy, I am sure you showed restraint.



Before you sit down to eat your Thanksgiving meal, there are some things that you need to know. These tips have been adapted from "Have a Guilt-Free Thanksgiving" By: Leslie Fink, MS, RD.



1. You must have a game plan. Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, so take time now to decide which food you want to eat at your meal.

2. Imagine yourself sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. Visualize the spread and decide how you'll fill up your plate. Be sure to include your favorite items so that you don't feel deprived and overeat later.

3. Decide how much of a favorite food will satisfy you. If you cannot conceive of eating just a small piece of Aunt Millie's famous pumpkin pie, cut out something else to account for the larger slice.

4. Select once-a-year foods. Choose to eat dishes that are just served on Thanksgiving; avoid those that show up at every meal. After all, do you really want sweet potatoes topped with melted marshmallows plus an ordinary baked spud?

5. Just say no. Practice creative ways to say "no" in case you get pressured by others to take seconds (or thirds).

6. There's always tomorrow. If the meal is at your house, remember that there will be plenty of leftovers. If you won't be able to sleep knowing that there's half a pie in the kitchen, "freeze leftovers immediately or give your guests doggie bags to take home," suggests Walls.

7. Stop when you're full. Push yourself away from the table when you've had enough. If you're not sitting within arm's length of the biscuits, you'll be less likely to overindulge.

8. All foods have benefits. Many Thanksgiving foods are packed with nutrients. For example, pumpkin pie is loaded with vitamin A (important for proper vision) and beta-carotene (a potentially powerful antioxidant). Green bean casserole and stuffing contain lots of folic acid (a B vitamin linked to the prevention of birth defects and, possibly, heart disease).

9. Broaden your focus. Make the holiday about more than just food. Focus on your friends and family and remember what you're thankful for, like wearing a smaller size, more comfortably crossing your legs or feeling more confident about yourself.

Thanksgiving does not have to be as scary as Halloween. Just remember to stick to the plan and forgive yourself of any setbacks that may take place.

11 comments:

SONDRA PRICE said...

Great game plan...if only I had the will power to follow it. Thanksgiving is the one time per year I actually do let myself over indulge. It's my favorite Holiday! :)

Jen Newsham said...

Casondra - Thanks! That's good that you let yourself indulge in your favorite holiday.

Marlene said...

Give me stuffing (with gravy of course) and pumpkin pie and I can live witout the rest! Ok, forget the fact that those are probably the fattiest things I will be preparing..... ;-)

Jen Newsham said...

Marlene - I am the same way! I always go after the stuffing, because it is the only time of year I eat it.

s|davis said...

Thanks for this Jen. I was just begining to have thoughts on how the Holiday will pan out for me.

Jen Newsham said...

Shelly - You're welcome! It is always good to plan ahead, which is why I wanted to write this post early.

SONDRA PRICE said...

Jennifer- I gave you a new blog award! You can get the details at my blog. :)

Jen Newsham said...

Thanks Casondra!!

Kendra said...

Thanksgiving is at my house this year, so I can kind of control what gets served. I'm not the biggest fan of thanksgiving food anyway, so I'm really not that worried. Plus, I think I might run a turkey trot in the morning, so that will help too.

Jen Newsham said...

Kendra - That is awesome! Those are great ideas. I like Thanksgiving for the stuffing, but it that's it then I am doing pretty good.

NICCALHOUN2599 said...

I did survive Halloween...now onto the Thanksgiving temptations!

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