With these smart strategies, you can indulge in all your favorite dishes without feeling like a Thanksgiving glutton.
Back in 1621, the pilgrims' first autumn harvest in the Plymouth, MA colony prompted the first Thanksgiving. A few hundred years later, in 1863, while the U.S. was gripped in a deadly Civil War, Abraham Lincoln took the opportunity to thank the Union Army by proclaiming the fourth Thursday of each November as the national observance of Thanksgiving. These days, the holiday seems to have taken on a life of its own, becoming a celebration of gluttony and revelry.
According to the Calorie Control Council, the average American will consume as many as 4,500 calories when they sit down to Thanksgiving dinner. And as all those traditional side dishes, appetizers and desserts come to mind, it’s easy to see why. Green beans topped with French fried onions, sweet potato casserole made with brown sugar and marshmallows, turkey drumsticks drowning in creamy gravy. The menu is decadent and, these days, synonymous with overeating. Add on a couple of glasses of wine or craft beers throughout the evening, and you’ve racked up even more calories.
With a couple of smart strategies, you can indulge in all your favorite Thanksgiving dishes without feeling too guilty (or bloated) afterward. Simple steps like drinking a few intermittent glasses of water or keeping food on a separate serving table can keep your calorie count on track.
The Group Health Cooperative in Washington State recommends chewing your food slowly as to make your meal more satisfying, and waiting 20 minutes—the time it takes your body to recognize that it is full—before going back for seconds or getting dessert.
Fitness routines and goals can also easily fall by the wayside during the holiday season. According to Lights Out, a San Diego-based athletic wear clothing company, a combo of smart eating choices and exercise can help you stay healthy, like the following helpful pointers:
- Eating just 10 percent less than your norm could help you reduce your calorie intake. A hundred calories one way or the other could have a significant impact on your ideal weight goals.
- Start a fitness routine and stick to it. Soon your body will begin to crave exercise, and you may be a little more reluctant to indulge because you'll know you'll pay for it in the gym.
- You don't have to be perfect. The point is to continue on with your exercise goals and push yourself past any mistakes. Over time, you will get better and your diet/exercise will get easier.