My journey to nutritional coaching has meant that my family has provided many opportunities for me to “experiment” in the kitchen. And I’ve been a little worried that someday my family may boycott Thanksgiving at my house! But family and friends are often treated to find most of our well-loved family favorites with a few healthier twists that delight all! (I’ve included a new “nutritious but delicious” Thanksgiving recipe below.)

How you approach the holidays is a personal choice. For some of us, this is one of those “treat” days where we eat what we want, without guilt, knowing we’ll be back on our mindful eating path the following day. For others, particularly if you are trying to lose weight or live healthier, you certainly don’t want to start a “season” of overeating.
So here are a few of the tips I like to share this time of year:

  • Try Thanksgiving grazing. Load your plate with vegetables first, then add whole grains and just a side of lean turkey. When the rest of the dishes and desserts are passed, choose a half serving of one or two that you really want – not an entire serving. That way you will get a taste of the holiday foods you love most, without overeating or feeling deprived. Filling up on vegetables during your meal helps to promote satisfaction while providing fullness to slow you down, and reduce any tendency to overeat
  • Try alternatives, not abstinence. I’ve roasted sweet potatoes with a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg instead of marshmallows, for a lighter, healthier dish that still shouts “Thanksgiving!” This year I found a wild rice pilaf as an alternative to traditional bread stuffing (see the recipe below).
  • Don’t drink your calories. You don’t have to imbibe spirits to get into the spirit! If you enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner, then switch to sparkling water with lemon. This year, for a dash of holiday whimsy, consider a muddle of fresh raspberries and drop them into my water glass, stir, and sip!
  • Pace yourself. Remember, Thanksgiving kicks off a “season of eating” – if you let it. And this year, we’ve got a two-for-one for many as the first day of Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving. Don’t give in to the domino-effect that can happen from consuming large amounts of sugar, alcohol and dairy (and potato latkes!). Also, remember that food temptation is only one stress of the holidays; houseguests, family dynamics, kids home from school—all can send you running to the refrigerator. Try to be aware of your relationship with food and how you feel after indulging. check in with any symptoms of overeating: Headache? Bloated? Exhausted? Moody? Why ruin your holiday by not feeling your best? Reducing or eliminating high sugar foods, excessive meat or alcohol and highly processed foods will help you avoid these symptoms, feel better and have more energy.
  • Don’t throw it all away. Even if you do over-indulge on Thanksgiving day, remember: it’s just one day. Don’t throw away all of your hard work by turning one day into a long, weekend marathon of eating. Stock up on disposable containers and send guests home with all of the leftovers. Find out if a shelter will let you bring uneaten pies, cakes and casseroles. If you have to, you can always toss out the temptations; after all, which is worse: throwing away food or throwing away your hard-earned health and wellness by “finishing” the leftovers?
  • Find other ways to enjoy the holidays. Bundle up and take a walk after the big Thanksgiving meal. Organize a game of touch football. Pull out the board games and close down the kitchen. Build a fire and tell stories, or watch old family videos (remember those?). In our family, we take a few minutes at the table for each one to share what they are most thankful for this year. Everyone slows down for a minute and it reminds us what this holiday is truly all about – Giving Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!