How to Eat Healthy on Thanksgiving
Pack your plate with the most healthy options on Thanksgiving.
We believe in eating as fuel AND celebration. If you’re celebrating this Thanksgiving, choose the meal, don’t use it.
Let’s take a look at what that means and tips on how to eat healthy on Thanksgiving.
happy hour
If you’re indulging in alcohol, eat some nuts too — it keeps you a bit more balanced. And instead of beer, try this fun and festive “Turkini” cocktail:
Turkini recipe:
1 oz. vodka
2 tbsp. blended frozen berries
a squeeze of fresh lime juice
top with club soda
dinner
• Don’t let family pressure you to eat — eat what is worth it for you (no jello, thank you very much!)
• Choose your proteins & fats first, then round out your plate with a smaller amount of carbs
• Keep checking in on whether you are still hungry, and wait 20 minutes before you take seconds (it takes 17 minutes for the belly to talk to the brain).
dessert
Choose one and enjoy!
Make this Thanksgiving the day you commit to eating thankfully year-round
Eating thankfully means being more thoughtful about and more grateful for the food you eat. This could be as simple as one of the following exercises:
- Closing your eyes and taking slow, deep breaths until you feel calm
- Expressing gratitude for your meal and picturing all who had a role in it: farmers, ranchers, butchers, distributors, buyers, cashiers, chefs or whomever prepared your food
- Giving thanks for your day, your health, your family, really anything you are grateful for
- Observing your food as if you’ve never seen it before, like a curious young child. Pay attention to the aromas, colors, and textures
It’s okay if you don’t have the time for this at every meal or even every day. Your goal can be as simple as scheduling adequate time for your meals, even if you can’t eat at the same time every day. Or, you could strive to pay more attention to how you’re feeling before, during, and after meals. Some questions to explore:
- Do you notice when you’re hungry?
- Do you notice how fast you’re eating?
- Do you notice when you’re full?
- How do you feel following your meals?
Whatever your answers to these questions, please don’t judge yourself. No one is perfect! Use them as motivation to pay attention more and more so that you can eat and care for yourself accordingly.
The holistic nutritionists at Healthy Nest believe that how you eat is just as important as what you eat. Get healthy habits in place before the holidays begin. Click here to schedule online for a free, 20-minute phone consultation with a Healthy Nest holistic nutritionist.