‘Tis the season! Whether you’re taking a vacation, visiting family or heading home, we want to make sure that wherever you’re spending Thanksgiving, you’re spending it right and practicing healthy habits.
The average American gains about five to seven pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, according the wellness experts at balancemindbodysoul.com.
If you continue healthy habits over Thanksgiving, you will likely carry those habits over to the rest of your holiday parties.
Avoid being just another statistic by kicking off the season with a few of our favorite Thanksgiving-focused nutrition tips:
Get off the couch and get some fresh airJust because Thanksgiving is a holiday based around food doesn’t mean you have to spend it in the kitchen. We all love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but when that’s over, gather everyone for a fun game of football in the backyard. Grab some friends, family members and neighbors to celebrate thisAmerican pastime, and create your very own Turkey Bowl.
Eat before going to partiesDon’t show up to a holiday party on an empty stomach. Chances are you will eat much faster and more than you would like to. Enjoy a healthy snack before you head out and bring along with you a veggie platter or low-calorie dip to ensure you will have at least one healthy option at the party. When gathering around the hors d’oeuvres table, pick up a small plate or napkin to help moderate your intake to a palm-size amount. Remember, your main meal is still on its way!
Make smart decisionsThink before you gobble down everything in your sight. The American Council on Exercise found the average Thanksgiving meal equals 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat.Practice portion control. Thanksgiving is not a time to deprive yourself of your favorites, but savor each bite and even a small piece of the pie will satisfy your sweet tooth. Fill up on turkey and corn to avoid over doing it on the stuffing and green bean casserole. Turkey is a lean meat. A great healthy choice: Cut off the skin to cut the fat and cholesterol out.
Burn off the calories in a local Turkey TrotMost towns have a variety of different Thanksgiving races to participate in. The best part about these races: Not only will you burn some calories, but you’ll also get a T-shirt! So wake up early and sign up with a friend or family member to participate. Whether you choose to run it or just walk it is your choice. If you’re staying local, register now for the Capital One Bank Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot at thetrot.org.
Catch up on sleepWith five days off school and the comfort of being back in your own bed, use this Thanksgiving break to finally catch up on sleep. Commit yourself to eight hours of sleep each night. An appropriate amount of sleep is as important to our bodies as exercising and eating right. “Several studies have linked insufficient sleep and weight gain. For example, studies have shown that people who habitually sleep less than six hours per night are much more likely to have a higher than average body mass index, and that people who sleep eight hours have the lowest BMI,” the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School found.
