Thanksgiving Nutrition Tips
Tips to Help Your Clients Stay on Track this Thanksgiving
BELIEVE IT! Your clients (and you!) can satisfy the cravings for those traditional family favorites AND still enjoy a guilt-free Thanksgiving dinner. Remember, being stuffed is a good idea only if you are a turkey!
“Break the fast” – NEVER go to the Thanksgiving dinner Hungry
Remind your clients that they should definitely eat as they would any other day. A lot of people starve themselves all day to “make room” for Thanksgiving dinner. This is a BAD IDEA! They will end up overeating during dinner and do more damage. During the day, eat small, light meals that keep you feeling satisfied.
Stay Hydrated!
Drink plenty of water, and stick to wine and beer instead of the high-calorie cocktails. Think about it…Would you rather have a 500 calorie cosmo, or a 500 calorie slice of pie? Plus, not drinking enough H2O could spark fake hunger pangs.
Work out before the big meal!
Up early? Go for a walk or run to enjoy some alone time before everyone starts showing up. That way, even if you do overdo it a little bit, you have a couple hundred calories to play with on Thanksgiving day. You can always do a YouTube search for quick at home workouts that you can do in your living room.
Vegetables Will Save the Day! – Or will they?
Squashes, salad, green beans, are potatoes are all are great side dishes that have tons of fiber and can fill your plate and your stomach without adding too many calories. BUT – sometimes these dishes can hide some sneaky ingredients high in fat and sugar. For examples, mashed potatoes are usually made with butter & milk, green bean casserole is made with cream of mushroom soup, cheese, milk, and fried onions, and candied yams are loaded with cream, sugar. If you didn’t make the dish and you don’t know exactly how it was cooked, just eat a much smaller portion than you normally would.
Substitute without losing flavor!
We now have so many recipes and substitutions at our fingertips. This year, make it a personal goal to revamp your classic family recipes with healthier alternatives and substitutions. For sweet potatoes, instead of cooking them with tons of sugar and cream, try sprinkling them with a tsp of honey and a bit of brown sugar, and bake them in the oven. You can also make your own fresh cranberry sauce instead of using the high-sugar, store-bought can version. For stuffing, switch out white bread for whole wheat, or even substitute veggies for bread.
Here are some additional substitutions and alternatives:
- Use fat-free chicken broth to baste the turkey and make gravy.
- Use sugar substitutes in place of sugar and/or fruit purees instead of oil in baked goods.
- Reduce oil and butter wherever you can.
- Try plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream in creamy dips, mashed potatoes, and casseroles.
Enjoy the Holiday
No matter what you decide to indulge in, remember that the holidays are for fun, friends, and family. USe it as an opportunity to enjoy everything that you have worked on this year and everything you still want to accomplish. Its never too late to make big exciting changes whether that on your physical appearance, your personal relationships, or even your career. Remember, NESTA is here to help!
Happy Thanksgiving from NESTA! and The Spencer Institute
