A lot of us love to binge eat on special occasions like Thanksgiving and Easter, and why not?
Some of the foods prepared for Thanksgiving are loaded with tradition and family memories.
I know I use these occasions as an excuse to overdose on chocolate just because.
Surrounded by family and with encouragement from everyone, it’s very easy to chomp down food anywhere between 2,500 and 4,500 calories.
This is a massive hit on your diet and depending on your body type and fitness activities, it can take months to get rid of these unwanted calories.
Gorge eating on Thanksgiving is most likely going to add a few inches to your waistline.
So what can you do to ensure you do not ruin your diet plan over Thanksgiving weekend?
Below are some of the tips I implement over the holidays to make sure I don’t overdo it.
With these tips, you can enjoy Thanksgiving without stressing too much about ruining the diet plan.
How to Enjoy Thanksgiving Without Ruining Your Diet Plan
1. Eat Low-Calorie Foods
You can stick to your diet and enjoy Thanksgiving by switching to low-calorie food items.
Sometimes, you may not have any input as per the menu so you’re stuck with foods that are not low in fat.
In this scenario, resort to portion control by using smaller bowls instead of large plates.
It’s one of the techniques recommended in Reach Your Fitness Goals Faster With These 17 Tips.
Some of the best low-calorie items that feature in Thanksgiving feasts usually include:-
- Cauliflower mashed potatoes
- Roasted veggies like asparagus, carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, and zucchini
- Ratatouille
- Brown rice
- Turkey (with minimal fixings) and minus the skin
- Collard greens
- Cranberry sauce
Not sure if something is low calorie, look it up on your phone real quick before putting it on your plate.
2. Snack Smartly Before the Main Event
One of the best ways to make sure you don’t overindulge on the main course and sweets is by snacking before.
Nothing too heavy though or you won’t be able to eat at all and you’ll never hear the end of that from family.
Some healthy snacks that will curb your appetite without filling you up too much include nuts, seeds, plain yogurt, cheese slices, avocado, etc.
These get the job done but not so much that you’ll be turned off thanksgiving food completely.
3. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Thanksgiving feasts are mostly an evening event. That means breakfast and lunch are before that.
Do not starve yourself all day in preparation for feasting. That is an excellent way to tank your diet and pile on the unwanted calories.
Have a light but good breakfast and use lunch to engage in the snacking recommended above.
If the Thanksgiving feast is in the afternoon, still have a light but good breakfast. You may not need to snack before lunch.
4. Go Easy on the Appetizers
No doubt, you will see a plethora of delicious and mouthwatering appetizers laid out at Thanksgiving.
However, if you don’t want to ruin your diet, you need to scale down your eyes.
Choose appetizers that are light and easy to digest.
Some of the common easy to digest Thanksgiving appetizers include salads, fresh veggies with dips, or soup.
5. Load Your Plate With Veggies
One of the best tips for filling your portion control bowl at Thanksgiving is to load it up with veggies.
Some of the great vegetables to indulge in include carrots, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and carrots.
You can use whatever space is leftover in the bowl to add a little bit of protein and fats. But just a little.
6. Don’t Indulge in Traditional Heavy Dishes
The majority of the traditional Thanksgiving recipes include a considerable amount of added sugar and cream.
It would be best if you avoided most of them, so your diet isn’t ruined completely.
Are you the one doing the cooking? Then add a minimal amount of sugar and cream.
There are healthy versions of many popular thanksgiving foods these days so it’s easier to find alternatives without compromising taste and quality.
7. Taste Your Food
What do I mean by this? I’m a slow eater. I chew, ruminate, savor, appreciate then swallow.
By the time I’m halfway through a plate, most people are on their second plate. This is a fantastic way to keep your food consumption in check.
Chewing slowly also means your brain gets the message that you’re full faster than when you snort the food.
8. Don’t Drink Your Calories
Just because you’re not eating all the food things doesn’t mean you should drink all the calories.
Sugary beverages feature an array of calories. Sipping on those drinks all through dinner will tank all the food work you’ve done earlier on the meals.
In this case, for every glass of beverage you drink, drink two glasses of water before the next beverage.
One of my tricks is to fill up a glass and nurse the same glass for a while sipping only a bit at a time.
My friends tell me I should be in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest time in history to finish a glass of wine. lol.
9. No Seconds. Ever
Just don’t do it. No matter how delicious what you ate was, resist the urge to have a second helping.
If you must taste it again, take a to-go plate with you for lunch or dinner the next day.
Hosts usually cook more food that everyone can eat and are very happy to pack up a plate for you to take home.
Out of all the tips I’ve recommended above, the best tip remains using a portion-controlled bowl.
If you do, you may be able to indulge in one or two not so low-calorie foods as well.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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