In many of our Blog and Instagram post’s we stress the word “moderation”. We say, “eat fast food with moderation”, “eat junk food with moderation”, etc. At the end of the day, we don’t want anyone feeling overwhelmed and stressed about changing their diet. That’s why today I wanted to list things you can do to enjoy your Thanksgiving with friends and family, while also feeling good about your food choices.
1. Add some veggies to your plate: Many of us may believe that Thanksgiving is about the turkey and pumpkin pie, but it wouldn’t hurt to add some vegetables to your plate. It’s important to get your nutrients and you can always save some turkey and pie for a later day.
2. Stay hydrated: Besides eating, keeping enough fluids in your body is very important. Being dehydrated is not good and can cause exhaustion. It would suck to feel tired and bummed out around friends and family.
3. Expect to eat more than usual: With lots of food being set out for everyone to eat, you may see yourself eating more than you can handle. Try to take your time with chewing to insure you don’t get a stomachache and not over consume on anything.
4. Don’t miss out on the foods you love: If you remember the 80/20 rule, then you can see that a healthy diet can still include things you love. If your aunt makes a killer chocolate cake, or your uncle bakes a ham like no other, don’t be ashamed to eat some. Chances are, you don’t get to eat those things often.
5. Introduce a new meal to your family: Us Nutrition Navigators plan on posting a few vegetarian and vegan meals to make for the upcoming holiday. Take a peek at our Instagram and you can find some recipes you may want to share with your family!
6. Be prepared to take leftovers: If your family allows it, take some leftover food back to your dorm or apartment and store it for later. Put it in the freezer if you don’t plan on eating it too soon, or in the fridge if you plan on finishing it within the week.
These are a few tips I plan to follow this Thanksgiving with my family. Remember to stay safe and if you plan on going out of town to eat with family, social distancing is a good option to help keep your loved ones healthy. Thank you for reading this and I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving break.
~TaeciAnn White