Thanksgiving Feast - Yes Please!

-

One of my favorite holidays is definitely Thanksgiving! Not only is it a time that I get to spend with my whole family and eat amazing food, but it is also around my birthday, so there are always extra treats! Thanksgiving can be a time that many people stress about because of all of the food that is offered. Some may worry about their calorie consumption, trying to eat all of the foods to please everyone, or just trying to make healthy choices at the meals. Well… no need to worry! There are many things that can be done to make the holiday a little bit more stress free!

The first thing is eating a well-rounded snack prior to going to your holiday celebration. If you eat a snack that contains carbs and protein you will feel more full longer and will be less likely to eat to the point of being beyond full. Another option is using a smaller plate, so that you do not take as large of portions of everything. This keeps “sampling” in mind, so that you can try all of the dishes without overloading your plate and feeling like you must eat everything and clean your plate.

When people think of Thanksgiving feasts, the first thing that comes to mind is turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. However, there are so many healthy seasonal produce options in the fall season! This includes squash, pumpkin, apples, leafy greens, cranberries, pears, and many more! There are so many AMAZING fall recipes with these ingredients that would be great for a Thanksgiving feast and make the table very colorful! Check out this link for some healthy ideas for desserts and side dishes! 
https://eatrightpa.org/members/blog/thanksgiving-sides-desserts-registered-dietitian/


I don’t know about you, but treats are definitely my weakness especially around the holidays! It is important to indulge a little bit around the holidays because it only comes around once a year and it is important to be thankful and enjoy the delicious food with friends and family. One way to modify the treats around the holidays is making mini treats! Often times, people want to try multiple sweets and this way you can, and the portion sizes are much smaller!

The last thing that can be helpful around the holidays is asking yourself if it is really worth it? Growing up, I always tried to eat absolutely everything because I did not want to hurt a family member’s feelings by not trying something. However, over the years I have learned that some foods at Thanksgiving I can have at any time, so I kind of skip those options and indulge in the foods that are only made once a year. This can cut down on filling up on those cheese and crackers that are offered before the meal!

It is so important to enjoy holiday food and the time that you can spend with family and friends. The holidays should not be a time to stress about all of the calories being consumed, but it is important to just be mindful about your eating habits around the holidays!

MF
https://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/registered-dietitians-offer-tips-healthier-thanksgiving
https://eatrightpa.org/members/blog/thanksgiving-sides-desserts-registered-dietitian/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/transcripts/1694_healthy-holiday-eating

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are All Sugars Created Equal?

-
Image
Are All Sugars Created Equal?  I think one of the most confusing nutrition topics for people is sugar. With so many conflicting stories out there, it’s difficult to separate the facts from the fiction. Not to mention, the types of sugars are endless. How do we know what’s best for our bodies? White or brown sugar? Cane or raw? Should we just go with Stevia instead? Is it even okay to consume artificial sweeteners? Should we avoid foods with high amounts of natural sugar in them? Each answer only seems to lead to another question!  Let’s start off with distinguishing the purpose of sugar in the first place. Do our bodies even need it? The short answer is yes! Sugars are carbohydrates (what we commonly call “carbs”), one of the three main macronutrients that our bodies need for fuel to function and survive. One of the major ways to categorize sugar is by separating the “natural” sugars from the “added” sugars. Natural sugars are, well, naturally found in foods. They give us the energy th
Read more

Do you struggle with pre and post exercise nutrition?

-
Image
What should i eat before and after a workout? First things first…carbohydrates, proteins and fats are important for the body before  and after exercise. Exercising muscle preferentially uses carbohydrates from stored glycogen, but fats are also an important fuel source for energy production during exercise. Fats and carbohydrates are the two major fuel sources during exercise. Fats must be translocated and broken down from their storage form before they are used. Typically there is enough carbohydrate stored as muscle glycogen for exercise but as muscle glycogen stores decline, the skeletal muscle will then use some amino acids (basic components of all protein). More specifically, the amino acid leucine is used for energy.              It is important to consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates exercise to delay fatigue and minimize gastrointestinal distress. It is also important to consume enough fluids to prevent hypohydration. Now, lets talk about pre-exercise me
Read more